Acalypha californica

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids I
Ordo: Malpighiales

Familia: Euphorbiaceae
Subfamilia: Acalyphoideae
Tribus: Acalypheae
Genus: Acalypha
Species: Acalypha californica
Name

Acalypha californica Benth.
Synonyms

Homotypic
Ricinocarpus californicus (Benth.) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 617 (1891).
Heterotypic
Acalypha pringlei S.Watson, Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 20: 373 (1885).
Acalypha stokesiae Pax & K.Hoffm. in H.G.A.Engler (ed.), Pflanzenr., IV, 147, XVI: 138 (1924).

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Northern America
Regional: Southwestern U.S.A.
Arizona, California
Regional: Mexico
Mexico Central, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Bentham, G. 1844–1846. The botany of the voyage of H.M.S. Sulphur, under the command of Captain Sir Edward Belcher, R.N., C.B., F.R.G.S, etc. during the years 1836–42. 195 pp., 60 tt. Smith, Elder and Co., London. BHL Reference page. : 51.

Links

International Plant Names Index. 2017. Acalypha californica. Published online. Accessed: Oct. 18 2017.
The Plant List 2013. Acalypha californica in The Plant List Version 1.1. Published online. Accessed: 2017 Oct. 18.

Tropicos.org 2017. Acalypha californica. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 18 Oct. 2017.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2017. Acalypha californica in World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2017 Oct. 17. Reference page.

Vernacular names
English: California copperleaf, Pringle three-seeded mercury

The flowering shrub Acalypha californica is known as the California copperleaf, and sometimes by the older name Pringle three-seeded mercury. It is the only Acalypha species native to California, where it is most abundant in the hills of San Diego County. It is a member of the chaparral plant community.

The plant bears hairy, juicy, toothed leaves which despite the plant's common name are light green, never copper in color. Each flower is made up of a staminate part, which appears as a long spike of tiny red and pink bracts, and a pistillate part at the base of the spike, which is a cup made up of green bracts bearing the ovary.
Citations

"NatureServe Explorer - Acalypha californica". NatureServe Explorer Acalypha californica. NatureServe. 2022-05-30. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
Bentham, George (1844). "175. Acalypha californica, sp. n.". The Botany of the Voyage of H.M.S. Sulphur. London: Smith, Elder and Co. pp. 51–52.