Acalypha australis

Acalypha australis, commonly known as Asian copperleaf,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the family Euphorbiaceae native to eastern Asia.

Acalypha australis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Subtribe: Acalyphinae
Genus: Acalypha
Species:
A. australis
Binomial name
Acalypha australis

Description

Acalypha australis is a herbaceous annual plant, growing 20–50 centimetres (8–20 in) tall. Its leaves are oblong to lanceolate, 3–9 cm (1.2–3.5 in) long, 1–5 cm (0.4–2.0 in) wide and borne on petioles 2–6 cm (0.8–2.4 in) long.[2] The flowers are borne in axillary (sometimes terminal) panicles, forming inflorescences 15–50 mm (0.6–2.0 in) long.[2] There are 1–3 female flowers and 5–7 male flowers per bract; the female flowers have three sepals, whereas the male flowers have four.[2]

Distribution and ecology

The native distribution of A. australis covers all of China except Nei Mongol and Xinjiang provinces, and parts of Japan, Korea, Laos, the Philippines, eastern Russia and Vietnam.[2] The species has also been introduced to New York,[3] northern Australia (Queensland to Victoria) and eastern India.[2][4][5]

In its native range, A. acalypha grows in grasslands and cultivated areas at altitudes of 100–1,200 m (330–3,940 ft), or exceptionally up to 1,900 m (6,200 ft), above sea level.[2]

References
  1. English Names for Korean Native Plants (PDF). Pocheon: Korea National Arboretum. 2015. p. 333. ISBN 978-89-97450-98-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2016 – via Korea Forest Service.
  2. Huaxing Qiu & Michael G. Gilbert (2008). "Acalypha australis Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 1004. 1753". In Wu Zhengyi, Peter H. Raven & Hong Deyuan (ed.). Oxalidaceae through Aceraceae. Flora of China. 11. Science Press and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. pp. 251–255. ISBN 9781930723733.
  3. Thomas J. Delendick (1990). "Acalypha australis L. (Euphorbiaceae) new to New York State". Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. 117 (3): 291–293. doi:10.2307/2996697. JSTOR 2996697.
  4. "Acalypha australis L." Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
  5. N. P. Singh (1967). "Acalypha australis Linn, –an addition to Indian flora". The Indian Forester. 93 (3): 186–192.
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