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Acalypha wikesiana Muell.
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English Name |
Wilkes Copperleaf, Red Copperleaf, Painted Copperleaf, Painted Copper-leaf, Copper-leaf |
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Latin name |
Acalypha wikesiana Muell. |
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Family & Genus |
Euphorbiaceae, Acalypha |
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Description |
Shrubs, 1-4m tall; bears short hairs. Leaves papery, wide ovate, bronze green or light red, usually with irregular red or purple spots, 10-18cm long, 6-12cm wide, apex acuminate, base round blunt, margin with coarsely round serration, along veins with sparse hairs below; base out veins 3-5; petioles 2-3cm, with sparse hairs; stipules narrow triangular, ca. 8mm, with short hairs. Hermaphrodite, usually male and female flowers have different inflorescences, male inflorescences 10-20cm, each part slightly pubescent, bracts ovate, ca. 1mm, bracts axillary with male flowers 9-17, arranged to glomerule; female inflorescences 5-10cm, inflorescence stalks ca. 2cm, female bracts wide ovate, with coarse teeth 7-11, bracts axillary with female flower 1; flowers nearly sessile. Calyx lobes of male inflorescences 4, long-ovate, ca. 0.7mm; stamens 8, pedicels ca. 1mm; calyx of female flowers 3-4, long-ovate or triangular-ovate, 0.5-1mm long, with tricholoma; ovary covered with dense hairs, styles 3, 6-7mm long, slits 9-15. Capsules with three mericarps, sparse with base long hairs; seeds spherical, ca. 2mm in diameter, smooth. Flowering: Takes nearly a year. |
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Distribution |
Growing in thickets on low-altitude mountains. Widely cultivated in tropical and sub-tropical regions, belonging to garden foliage plant; cultivated in Taiwan, Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi and Yunnan. |
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Part Used |
Medical part: leaves. Chinese name: Hongsang. |
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Harvest & Processing |
Harvested throughout the year and sun-dried. |
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Properties & Actions |
Pungent, bitter, cool.Clearing fever and relieving swelling. |
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Indications & Usage |
Cough, swelling, throat pain.Oral administration: decocting, 9-15g. |
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