Acalypha monococca

(Engelmann ex A. Gray) Lillian W. Miller & Gandhi

Sida 13: 123. 1988.

Common names: Oneseeded mercury
Endemic
Basionym: Acalypha gracilens var. monococca Engelmann ex A. Gray Manual ed. 2, 390. 1856
Synonyms: A. gracilens subsp. monococca (Engelmann ex A. Gray) G. L. Webster
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 12. Treatment on page 171. Mentioned on page 164, 172.

Herbs, annual, 1–4 dm, monoecious. Stems erect, pubescent. Leaves: petiole 0.2–1(–1.2) cm; blade linear-lanceolate to linear, 1.7–6(–7) × 0.3–1.2 cm, base cuneate, margins usually subentire, sometimes shallowly serrate, apex acute. Inflorescences bisexual, axillary; peduncle 0.1–0.6 cm, pistillate portion 0.6–1.2 × 0.8–1.5 cm or pistillate bract solitary, staminate portion 0.1–2.5 cm; allomorphic pistillate flowers absent. Pistillate bracts loosely arranged to crowded (inflorescence axis clearly to scarcely visible between bracts) or solitary, 8–13 × 11–16 mm, abaxial surface sparsely to densely pubescent, red sessile-glandular, and rarely stipitate-glandular; lobes (7–)9–13(–17), deltate, 1/10–1/4 bract length. Pistillate flowers: pistil 1-carpellate; styles multifid or laciniate. Capsules smooth, pubescent. Seeds 1.6–2.4 mm, shallowly pitted.


Phenology: Flowering and fruiting summer–fall.
Habitat: Pine and oak woods, prairies, barrens, on sandy or shallow rocky soils.
Elevation: 80–600 m.

Distribution

V12 163-distribution-map.jpg

Ark., Ill., Kans., Ky., La., Mo., Okla., Tex.

Discussion

Even when fruits have dehisced, Acalypha monococca is easily distinguished from A. gracilens and all other species in the genus by its curved, needlelike columellae.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Acalypha monococca"
Geoffrey A. Levin +
(Engelmann ex A. Gray) Lillian W. Miller & Gandhi +
Acalypha gracilens var. monococca +
Oneseeded mercury +
Ark. +, Ill. +, Kans. +, Ky. +, La. +, Mo. +, Okla. +  and Tex. +
80–600 m. +
Pine and oak woods, prairies, barrens, on sandy or shallow rocky soils. +
Flowering and fruiting summer–fall. +
A. gracilens subsp. monococca +
Acalypha monococca +
Acalypha +
species +