Acalypha wilkesiana

Müller Arg. in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle

Prodr. 15(2): 817. 1866.

Common names: Painted copperleaf beefsteak plant match-me-if-you-can
Introduced
Synonyms: Acalypha amentacea subsp. wilkesiana (Müller Arg.) Fosberg
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 12. Treatment on page 165. Mentioned on page 163.
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Shrubs, 20–50 dm, monoecious. Stems erect, sparsely to densely pubescent, not glandular. Leaves persistent; petiole 1–6 cm; blade ovate to broadly ovate or suborbiculate, 9–20 × 4–15 cm, base obtuse to rounded or subcordate, margins serrate-crenate, apex acuminate. Inflorescences usually unisexual, rarely bisexual, axillary; staminate peduncle 0.1–1.5 cm, fertile portion 10–20 cm; pistillate peduncle 1–2 cm, fertile portion 4–15 × 0.5–0.8 cm; bisexual similar to staminate, with 1–2 pistillate bracts near base; allomorphic pistillate flowers absent. Pistillate bracts loosely arranged (inflorescence axis visible between bracts), 2–4 × 3–5 mm, abaxial surface sparsely to moderately pubescent; lobes 7–9, ovate to lanceolate, 1/4 bract length, except terminal lobe to 1/2 bract length. Pistillate flowers: pistil 3-carpellate; styles multifid or laciniate. Capsules unknown. Seeds unknown.


Phenology: Flowering spring–fall.
Habitat: Old home sites, disturbed areas.
Elevation: 0–10 m.

Distribution

V12 613-distribution-map.jpg

Introduced; Fla., Pacific Islands, also in Mexico, West Indies, Central America, n South America, se Asia, Africa

Discussion

Acalypha wilkesiana is not known in the wild, but presumably originated in the southwestern Pacific Islands (Bismarck Archipelago east to Fiji). The species is commonly cultivated as an ornamental for its leaves that may be various shades of green, purple, red, orange, and yellow (sometimes variegated), and sometimes contorted into unusual shapes. Despite low seed set, it occasionally becomes naturalized in tropical and subtropical areas. Naturalized plants often lack the distinctive leaf coloration found in cultivated plants. Although sometimes treated as A. amentacea subsp. wilkesiana, DNA sequence data show that A. wilkesiana and A. amentacea are distinct species (V. G. Sagun et al. 2010).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"elongated" is not a number.No values specified."connate" is not a number. "distinct" is not a number.

... more about "Acalypha wilkesiana"
acuminate +
Geoffrey A. Levin +
Müller Arg. in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle +
obtuse +  and rounded or subcordate +
9 cm90 mm <br />0.09 m <br /> (20 cm200 mm <br />0.2 m <br />) +
ovate;broadly ovate or suborbiculate +
4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br /> (15 cm150 mm <br />0.15 m <br />) +
pistillate +  and staminate +
1 +  and 2 +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (?) +  and 0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (?) +
thread-like +
Painted copperleaf +, beefsteak plant +  and match-me-if-you-can +
Fla. +, Pacific Islands +, also in Mexico +, West Indies +, Central America +, n South America +, se Asia +  and Africa +
0–10 m. +
Old home sites, disturbed areas. +
bisexual +  and unisexual +
persistent +
ovate;lanceolate +
palmate +  and pinnate +
dentate +, serrate +  and entire +
serrate-crenate +
allomorphic +, pistillate +  and staminate +
pistillate +  and staminate +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br />) +
connate;distinct +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (6 cm60 mm <br />0.06 m <br />) +
Flowering spring–fall. +
4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br /> (15 cm150 mm <br />0.15 m <br />) +
bisexual +  and fertile +
10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br /> (20 cm200 mm <br />0.2 m <br />) +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
ellipsoid +  and subglobose +
not petaloid +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
distinct +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
Introduced +
deciduous +  and persistent +
connate +  and distinct +
laciniate +  and multifid +
Acalypha amentacea subsp. wilkesiana +
Acalypha wilkesiana +
Acalypha +
species +
spikelike +
perennial +  and annual +