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Acalypha indica L.
| Family Name: | Euphorbiaceae |
| Synonyms: | Acalypha chinensis Benth. |
| Common Name: | Copperleaf, Indian Acalypha, 热带铁苋菜, 印度铁苋 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Annual |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 1 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Old world tropics |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Cryptogenic |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Herb that typically grows up to 1 m tall (but also up to 1.5-2.5 m tall). |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Egg-shaped leaves occur in a whorled leaf arrangement (3 or more leaves attached to the same point on the stem). |
| Flowers | Male and female flowers occur on spike inflorescences that emerge at the leaf axil (the attachment point of the leaf to the stem). Green, female flowers are surrounded by a cup-like structure known as a bract and located near the bottom of the inflorescence. White-green male flowers lack the cup-like bract and occur near the tip of the inflorescence. |
| Fruit | Dry fruit breaks open when ripe and has 3 lobes. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Medicinal: Traditional Medicinal Uses In East Africa the leaf sap is used as eye drops to treat eye infection. In Comoros, a leaf decoction is used as a massage cream to treat joint pain. Caution: One study found fresh or boiled juice prepared by grinding the plant caused toxicity in some individuals. <1> It is important to note that some therapeutic effects from traditional medicinal uses of plants are not currently supported or verified by scientific research. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscape Uses | General, Small Gardens, Flowerbed / Border, Container Planting |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water, Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
| Seed / Spore Germination Duration | 26 months |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Velvety / Furry / Tomentose |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Spiral |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Serrate / Toothed |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Cuneate |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Unisexual Flowers , Monoecious |
| Flower Colour(s) | Green |
|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 31565 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 5964 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
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