Shrubby copperleaf (Acalypha phleoides)
Description
Herbs, perennial, 2-5 dm, monoecious. Stems erect, short-pubescent and hirsute. Leaves: petiole 0.2-1 cm; blade rhombic-ovate to ovate, or proximal suborbiculate, 2-6 - 1-3 cm, base acute to rounded, margins serrate to crenate-serrate, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescences bisexual, terminal; peduncle 0.3-0.5(-1) cm, pistillate portion 4-7 - 1.6-2 cm, staminate portion 0.5-3.5 cm; allomorphic pistillate flowers rarely present, replacing all or part of staminate portion of inflorescence. Pistillate bracts (normal flowers) loosely arranged (inflorescence axis visible between bracts), 8-12 - 7-11 mm, abaxial surface sparsely pubescent and stipitate-glandular; lobes (3-)5-7(-8), triangular to attenuate, 1/5-1/3 bract length or terminal lobe longer; of allomorphic flowers absent. Pedicels of allomorphic flowers 3-5 mm. Pistillate flowers: pistil 3-carpellate (normal flowers), 2-carpellate (allomorphic flowers); styles multifid or laciniate. Capsules muricate, pubescent; allomorphic fruits obovoid, 2 - 1.5 mm, muricate, pubescent. Seeds 1.5-2 mm, minutely pitted. 2n = 40 (Mexico).
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Malpighiales
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Family: Euphorbiaceae
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Genus: Acalypha
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