Acalypha alopecuroidea Jacq., Euphorbiaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

English: foxtail copperleaf

Spanish: cadillo de mazorca, gusanillo, mazorquilla, rabo de gato

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Erect herb branched from near the base, 15-60 cm high; leaves ovate, acuminate, shortly cordate at base, serrate, thinly hispid with short and long hairs, 3.5-8 cm long, up to 4.5 cm broad; petiole 1-4 (-7) cm long, male spikes axillary, 3-9 mm long; female spikes terminal or axillary, 5-20 mm long, with a bristlelike appendage tipped by an aborted flower; capsule 1.3-1.4 mm long; seeds ellipsoidal, reddish-brown, about 1 mm long"  (Adams, 1972; p. 423).

Pubescent herb with alternate leaves, catkin-like male inflorescences, and reddish ellipsoid, soft-bristly female inflorescences" (Whistler, 1988; p. 17).

Habitat/ecology:  "Rare in disturbed places in Samoa" (Whistler, 1988; p. 17).  In Jamaica, "rather common as a weed of damp shady roadside ditches, cultivation and waste places on limestone"  (Adams, 1972; p. 423).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Mexico to Venezuela, West Indies (Adams, 1972; p. 423).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 17) Voucher cited: Whistler 5139

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Colombia Colombia	Colombia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Costa Rica Costa Rica	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Ecuador (Mainland) Ecuador	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
El Salvador El Salvador	El Salvador (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Honduras Honduras	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Nicaragua Nicaragua	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Panama Panama	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Perú Perú	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2011)

Additional information:
Additional online information about Acalypha alopecuroidea is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Acalypha alopecuroidea as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Acalypha alopecuroidea may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Adams, C. D. 1972. Flowering plants of Jamaica. University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica. 848 pp.

Cardenas, Juan/Reys, Carlos E./Doll, Jerry D./Pardo, Fernando. 1972. Tropical weeds; malezas tropicales, vol. 1. International Plant Protection Center, Oregon State University, Corvallis. 341 pp.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2011. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. 2011. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

Whistler, W. A. 1988. Checklist of the weed flora of western Polynesia. Technical Paper No. 194, South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 69 pp.