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Euphorbiaceae
Acalypha

not marked as a favorite taxon Acalypha virginica Linnaeus. Common name: Virginia Copperleaf. Phenology: Late Jun-Nov. Habitat: Woodlands and disturbed ground. Distribution: ME west to IN, IL, MO, and KS, south to c. GA and TX.

Glossary (beta!)

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, F, FNA12, G, GrPl, GW2, Il, K4, Mi, NcTx, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, Levin (1999b); = Acalypha virginica L. var. virginica — Govaerts, Frodin, & Radcliffe-Smith (2000). Basionym: Acalypha virginica L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Acalypha virginica - FNA12

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
  • Great Plains: FACU
  • Midwest: FACU
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACU

Heliophily ⓘ: 6

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image #1 of Acalypha virginica© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Acalypha virginica© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Acalypha virginica© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Acalypha virginica© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Acalypha virginica© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect annual of dry oak-hickory forests, woodlands, barrens, outcrops, clearings, riverside prairies and weedy, disturbed habitats.

Stems: Stems occasionally branched, light to medium green and densely hairy.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, long-petiolate, elliptic to lance-shaped, to 3 in. long, with round-toothed margins, sparsely hairy; leaves often crowded toward top of plant.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers in axillary clusters, each resting on a leaf-like bract that is loosely folded around a short spike of male flowers and 1-3 female flowers; male flowers 1/8 in. wide, consisting of a 4-lobed calyx, no petals, and several stamens; female flowers 1/4 in. wide, consisting of insignificant sepals, no petals, and a 3-valved, round ovary with short divided styles.

Fruits: Fruit a tiny, hairy, 3-lobed capsule.

Comments:

Height: 6-24 in.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect annual of dry oak-hickory forests, woodlands, barrens, outcrops, clearings, riverside prairies and weedy, disturbed habitats.

stems: Stems occasionally branched, light to medium green and densely hairy.

leaves: Leaves alternate, long-petiolate, elliptic to lance-shaped, to 3 in. long, with round-toothed margins, sparsely hairy; leaves often crowded toward top of plant.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers in axillary clusters, each resting on a leaf-like bract that is loosely folded around a short spike of male flowers and 1-3 female flowers; male flowers 1/8 in. wide, consisting of a 4-lobed calyx, no petals, and several stamens; female flowers 1/4 in. wide, consisting of insignificant sepals, no petals, and a 3-valved, round ovary with short divided styles.

fruits: Fruit a tiny, hairy, 3-lobed capsule.

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

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