stxflora

Acalypha radians

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Plant Description: Perennials to 30 cm high, often forming mounds. Leaves alternate, simple, 4 – 20 mm wide with 8 – 16 fingerlike lobes, margins deeply lobed. Male and female flowers on separate plants, the male flower is a reddish spike to 3 cm long, the female flower has feathery red styles.

Plant Trivia: Common name is derived from the female flower. The deeply lobed, roundish leaves identify this species of Acalypha.

Field Identification: Sprawling, delicate looking plant with obvious male and female flowers nearly year-round. Forms mounds up to a meter square.

Occurrence: Locally abundant in sandy openings and prairies and on island dunes.

Bloom Period: Year-round

Plant Use: Good ground cover. Has tuberose root allowing plant to survive in very dry conditions once established.

Key to the Genus Acalypha:

1. Male and female flowers on different plants, leaves wider than long…………………………………………………………………………………………………A. radians

               Male and female flowers on same plant, leaves longer than wide…….2

           2. Male flowers in axillary spikes, female in termina spikes...A. ostryifolia

              Male and female flowers in same spike, male below…………A. gracilens