Acalypha gracilens A. Gray. Common name: Shortstalk Copperleaf, Slender Copperleaf. Phenology: Late Jun-Nov. Habitat: Woodlands, disturbed ground. Distribution: ME west to WI, south to FL and TX.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: The related A. monococca (Engelmann ex A. Gray) Lillian W. Miller & Gandhi is of broadly Ozarkian distribution and warrants specific status (Levin 1999a, 1999b). Var. fraseri is generally more southern and is considered to differ in having more elongate staminate spikes, to 3-4 cm long (vs. 0.5-1.5 cm long). It may have merit, but was not recognized by Levin (1999a, 1999b).
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, Fl2, FNA12, K4, Mi, NcTx, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S13, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3, Levin (1999b); = Acalypha gracilens A.Gray ssp. gracilens; = Acalypha virginica L. var. gracilens (A.Gray) Müller of Aargau — Govaerts, Frodin, & Radcliffe-Smith (2000); > Acalypha virginica L. var. delzii Lill.W.Mill. — Tx; > Acalypha gracilens A.Gray var. fraseri (Müller of Aargau) Weath. — C, F, G, Il, S; > Acalypha gracilens A.Gray var. gracilens — C, F, G, S, Tx, Govaerts et al. (1994). Basionym: Acalypha gracilens A.Gray 1848
Links to other floras: = Acalypha gracilens - FNA12
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
- Great Plains: FAC
- Midwest: FACU
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU
Heliophily ⓘ: 7
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© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
© Jay Horn source | Original Image ⭷
© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect annual of woodlands, prairies and other open, disturbed areas.
Stems: Stems branching and very hairy.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, short-petiolate, oval to oblong, to 2 1/2 in. long, with 3 prominent veins, toothed, hairy on the margins, sparsely hairy above.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers clustered in spikes from upper leaf axils, yellowish-white, tiny, consisting of translucent sepals; male flowers at tip of each spike and fewer female flowers at the base, where there is a large, leafy bract with short, triangular, hairy-margined lobes bearing tiny, stalked glands.
Fruits: Fruit a tiny, hairy, 3-lobed capsule.
Comments:
Height: to 2 1/2 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect annual of woodlands, prairies and other open, disturbed areas.
stems: Stems branching and very hairy.
leaves: Leaves alternate, short-petiolate, oval to oblong, to 2 1/2 in. long, with 3 prominent veins, toothed, hairy on the margins, sparsely hairy above.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers clustered in spikes from upper leaf axils, yellowish-white, tiny, consisting of translucent sepals; male flowers at tip of each spike and fewer female flowers at the base, where there is a large, leafy bract with short, triangular, hairy-margined lobes bearing tiny, stalked glands.
fruits: Fruit a tiny, hairy, 3-lobed capsule.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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