Acalypha petiolaris Hochst.

Euphorbiaceae, A. R.-Smith. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1987

Morphology General Habit

A perennial herb or subshrub up to 1(–2) m. tall, with a few erect, ascending or decumbent stems arising from a woody rootstock.

Morphology Stem

Stems at the same time both crisped-puberulous and sparingly to densely patent-hirsute.

Morphology Leaves

Petioles (0.3–)1–3(–5) cm. long, hairy like the stems, usually with a pair of filiform glands 1 mm. long at the junction with the blade; leaf-blade sometimes ovate, more often ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate or even linear-lanceolate, (2–)5–12.5(–14) cm. long, (0.5–)1–4 cm. wide, attenuate or subacutely to obtusely acuminate, usually cordate, sometimes rounded or truncate, serrate or crenate-serrate, often rather coarsely so, firmly membranous, (5–)7(–9)-nerved at the base, lateral nerves 5–8 pairs, sparingly to evenly, rarely densely, pubescent or hirsute above and beneath, more particularly on the midrib and main veins.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules subulate-filiform, 1.5–4(–6) mm. long, with a few subsessile glands on the margin, sparingly pilose.

sex Male

Male flowers:pedicels ± 1 mm. long; buds 4-lobate, subglobose, sparingly pubescent. Male racemes solitary, axillary, up to 11 cm. long, densely flowered, pedunculate or not, sometimes the peduncle up to half the length of the inflorescence; axis crisped-puberulous; bracts linear, 1.5 mm. long, acute, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Female inflorescences spicate, usually solitary, terminal, capitate, subcylindric or cylindric, up to 3 cm. long and 1.5 cm. wide when mature, subsessile or shortly pedunculate; bracts transversely ovate to suborbicular, accrescent, 5 mm. long and 1 cm. wide when fully developed, dentate, sparingly pubescent and fairly densely beset with stipitate glands without, and within on the teeth, 1-flowered. Male racemes solitary, axillary, up to 11 cm. long, densely flowered, pedunculate or not, sometimes the peduncle up to half the length of the inflorescence; axis crisped-puberulous; bracts linear, 1.5 mm. long, acute, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Female flowers sessile; sepals 3(–4), ovate-lanceolate, 1 mm. long, acute, ciliate, pubescent without, glabrous within; ovary trilobate-subglobose, 0.8 mm. diameter, pubescent in the upper half; styles free, up to 1.6 cm. long, pectinate, red. Male flowers:pedicels ± 1 mm. long; buds 4-lobate, subglobose, sparingly pubescent.

sex Female

Female flowers sessile; sepals 3(–4), ovate-lanceolate, 1 mm. long, acute, ciliate, pubescent without, glabrous within; ovary trilobate-subglobose, 0.8 mm. diameter, pubescent in the upper half; styles free, up to 1.6 cm. long, pectinate, red. Female inflorescences spicate, usually solitary, terminal, capitate, subcylindric or cylindric, up to 3 cm. long and 1.5 cm. wide when mature, subsessile or shortly pedunculate; bracts transversely ovate to suborbicular, accrescent, 5 mm. long and 1 cm. wide when fully developed, dentate, sparingly pubescent and fairly densely beset with stipitate glands without, and within on the teeth, 1-flowered.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits trilobate, 4 mm. long, 5 mm. diameter, sparingly pubescent and with a few scattered glandular hairs at the apex, glabrous below.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds ovoid-subglobose, 2.5 mm. long, 2 mm. wide, smooth, dark grey, with a depressed-hemispherical caruncle ± 1 mm. across.

Habitat

Wooded and open grassland, extending marginally into woodland and forest edges, persisting in cultivated ground; 50–2000 m.

Distribution

K3 K4 K5 K6 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 U1 U2 from Senegal eastwards to Ethiopia and south to Namibia, Botswana, South Africa (Transvaal) and Swaziland