432 Species of Genus Acalypha

Acalypha: A World of Wonder in My Backyard

I’ve always been fascinated by the sheer diversity of the plant kingdom. The way a single genus can encompass a spectrum of forms, colors, and textures never ceases to amaze me. Take the genus Acalypha, for instance. These plants, belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family, are a testament to nature’s artistry. With their vibrant foliage and unique flower structures, they’ve captured my attention and held it captive.

Why Acalypha?

What draws me to Acalypha? It’s simple: their captivating beauty and intriguing variety. Commonly known as copperleaf, these plants boast an array of leaf shapes and colors. Some species, like Acalypha wilkesiana, showcase leaves splashed with hues of copper, red, and pink, while others, like Acalypha hispida, are adorned with striking, crimson catkin-like inflorescences. This diversity ensures there’s an Acalypha to suit every taste and garden.

A Diverse Genus

The genus Acalypha is vast, encompassing approximately 450 to 462 species. This incredible number translates to a rich tapestry of forms, from shrubs and trees to annuals and perennials. Imagine the possibilities!

Here are fascinating species:

1. Acalypha abingdonii Seberg
2. Acalypha acapulcensis Fernald
3. Acalypha accedens Müll.Arg.
4. Acalypha acmophylla Hemsl.
5. Acalypha acrogyna Pax
6. Acalypha acuminata Benth.
7. Acalypha adenostachya Müll.Arg.
8. Acalypha aliena Brandegee
9. Acalypha allenii Hutch.
10. Acalypha almadinensis A.A.C.Sousa
11. Acalypha alopecuroidea Jacq.
12. Acalypha ambigua Pax
13. Acalypha amblyodonta (Müll.Arg.) Müll.Arg.
14. Acalypha amentacea Roxb.
15. Acalypha amithii Mart.Gord., Fragoso & K.Velasco
16. Acalypha amphigyne S.Moore
17. Acalypha amplexicaulis A.C.Sm.
18. Acalypha anadenia Standl.
19. Acalypha andringitrensis Leandri
20. Acalypha anemioides Kunth
21. Acalypha angatensis Blanco
22. Acalypha angustata Sond.
23. Acalypha angustifolia Sw.
24. Acalypha angustissima Pax
25. Acalypha ankaranensis I.Montero & Cardiel
26. Acalypha annobonae Pax & K.Hoffm.
27. Acalypha apetiolata Allem & J.L.Wächt.
28. Acalypha apodanthes Standl. & L.O.Williams
29. Acalypha argentii Sagun & G.A.Levin
30. Acalypha argomuelleri Briq.
31. Acalypha aronioides Pax & K.Hoffm.
32. Acalypha arvensis Poepp.
33. Acalypha australis L.
34. Acalypha bailloniana Müll.Arg.
35. Acalypha balansae Guillaumin
36. Acalypha balgooyi Sagun & G.A.Levin
37. Acalypha bardotiana I.Montero & Cardiel
38. Acalypha baretiae I.Montero & Cardiel
39. Acalypha beckii Cardiel
40. Acalypha benguelensis Müll.Arg.
41. Acalypha berryi I.Montero, Cardiel & G.A.Levin
42. Acalypha berteroana Müll.Arg.
43. Acalypha bipartita Müll.Arg.
44. Acalypha bisetosa Bertol. ex Spreng.
45. Acalypha boinensis Leandri
46. Acalypha boiviniana Baill.
47. Acalypha boliviensis Müll.Arg.
48. Acalypha botteriana Müll.Arg.
49. Acalypha brachyclada Müll.Arg.
50. Acalypha brachystachya Hornem.
51. Acalypha brasiliensis Müll.Arg.
52. Acalypha brevicaulis Müll.Arg.
53. Acalypha buddleifolia Pax & K.Hoffm.
54. Acalypha bullata Müll.Arg.
55. Acalypha burmanii I.Montero & Cardiel
56. Acalypha burquezii V.W.Steinm. & Felger
57. Acalypha bussei Hutch.
58. Acalypha caeciliae Pax & K.Hoffm.
59. Acalypha californica Benth.
60. Acalypha caperonioides Baill.
61. Acalypha capillipes Müll.Arg.
62. Acalypha capitata Willd.
63. Acalypha cardielii I.Montero & G.A.Levin
64. Acalypha cardiophylla Merr.
65. Acalypha carrascoana Cardiel
66. Acalypha carthagenensis Jacq.
67. Acalypha castroviejoi Cardiel
68. Acalypha caturus Blume
69. Acalypha ceraceopunctata Pax
70. Acalypha chamaedrifolia (Lam.) Müll.Arg.
71. Acalypha chaquensis Cardiel & I.Montero
72. Acalypha chiapensis Brandegee
73. Acalypha chibomboa Baill.
74. Acalypha chirindica S.Moore
75. Acalypha chlorocardia Standl.
76. Acalypha chocoana Cardiel
77. Acalypha chordantha F.Seym.
78. Acalypha chorisandra Baill.
79. Acalypha chuniana H.G.Ye, Y.S.Ye, X.S.Qin & F.W.Xing
80. Acalypha ciliata Forssk.
81. Acalypha cincta Müll.Arg.
82. Acalypha cinerea Pax & K.Hoffm.
83. Acalypha claoxyloides Hutch.
84. Acalypha claussenii (Turcz.) Müll.Arg.
85. Acalypha clutioides Radcl.-Sm.
86. Acalypha coleispica Pax & K.Hoffm.
87. Acalypha communis Müll.Arg.
88. Acalypha comonduana Millsp.
89. Acalypha confertiflora Pax & K.Hoffm.
90. Acalypha conspicua Müll.Arg.
91. Acalypha contermina Müll.Arg.
92. Acalypha costaricensis (Kuntze) Knobl. ex Pax & K.Hoffm.
93. Acalypha crateriana (Coode) I.Montero & Cardiel
94. Acalypha crenata Hochst. ex A.Rich.
95. Acalypha × cristata Radcl.-Sm.
96. Acalypha crockeri Fosberg
97. Acalypha cubensis Urb.
98. Acalypha cuneata Poepp.
99. Acalypha cuprea Herzog
100. Acalypha cupricola Robyns ex G.A.Levin
101. Acalypha cuspidata Jacq.
102. Acalypha dalzellii Hook.f.
103. Acalypha deamii (Weath.) Ahles
104. Acalypha decaryana Leandri
105. Acalypha decumbens Thunb.
106. Acalypha delgadoana McVaugh
107. Acalypha delicata Cardiel
108. Acalypha delpyana Gagnep.
109. Acalypha deltoidea Robyns & Lawalrée
110. Acalypha depauperata Müll.Arg.
111. Acalypha depressinervia (Kuntze) K.Schum.
112. Acalypha dewevrei Pax
113. Acalypha dictyoneura Müll.Arg.
114. Acalypha digynostachya Baill.
115. Acalypha dikuluwensis P.A.Duvign. & Dewit
116. Acalypha diminuta Baill.
117. Acalypha dimorpha Müll.Arg.
118. Acalypha dioica S.Watson
119. Acalypha distans Müll.Arg.
120. Acalypha diversifolia Jacq.
121. Acalypha dregei Gand.
122. Acalypha dumetorum Müll.Arg.
123. Acalypha eastmostpointensis S.S.Ying
124. Acalypha echinus Pax & K.Hoffm.
125. Acalypha ecklonii Baill.
126. Acalypha elizabethiae R.A.Howard
127. Acalypha elliptica Sw.
128. Acalypha elskensii De Wild.
129. Acalypha emirnensis Baill.
130. Acalypha engleri Pax
131. Acalypha erecta Paul G.Wilson
132. Acalypha eremorum Müll.Arg.
133. Acalypha eriophylla Hutch.
134. Acalypha eriophylloides S.Moore
135. Acalypha erubescens B.L.Rob. & Greenm.
136. Acalypha euphrasiostachys Bartlett
137. Acalypha ferdinandi K.Hoffm.
138. Acalypha filiformis Poir.
139. Acalypha filipes (S.Watson) McVaugh
140. Acalypha fimbriata Schumach. & Thonn.
141. Acalypha firmula Müll.Arg.
142. Acalypha fissa (Müll.Arg.) Hutch.
143. Acalypha flaccida Hook.f.
144. Acalypha flagellata Millsp.
145. Acalypha flavescens S.Watson
146. Acalypha floresensis Sagun & G.A.Levin
147. Acalypha forbesii S.Moore
148. Acalypha forsteriana Müll.Arg.
149. Acalypha fournieri Müll.Arg.
150. Acalypha fredericii Müll.Arg.
151. Acalypha fruticosa Forssk.
152. Acalypha fulva I.M.Johnst.
153. Acalypha fuscescens Müll.Arg.
154. Acalypha gaumeri Pax & K.Hoffm.
155. Acalypha gentlei Atha
156. Acalypha gibsonii (J.Graham) M.R.Almeida
157. Acalypha gigantesca McVaugh
158. Acalypha gillespieae G.A.Levin & I.Montero
159. Acalypha gillmanii Radcl.-Sm.
160. Acalypha glabrata Thunb.
161. Acalypha glandulifolia Buchinger & Meisn. ex C.Krauss
162. Acalypha glandulosa Cav.
163. Acalypha glechomifolia A.Rich.
164. Acalypha gossweileri S.Moore
165. Acalypha gracilens A.Gray
166. Acalypha gracilipes Baill.
167. Acalypha gracilis Spreng.
168. Acalypha grandibracteata Merr.
169. Acalypha grandis Benth.
170. Acalypha grisea Pax & K.Hoffm.
171. Acalypha grisebachiana (Kuntze) Pax & K.Hoffm.
172. Acalypha grueningiana Pax & K.Hoffm.
173. Acalypha guatemalensis Pax & K.Hoffm.
174. Acalypha guineensis J.K.Morton & G.A.Levin
175. Acalypha gummifera Lundell
176. Acalypha hainanensis Merr. & Chun
177. Acalypha haploclada Pax & K.Hoffm.
178. Acalypha hassleriana Chodat
179. Acalypha havanensis Müll.Arg.
180. Acalypha helenae Buscal. & Muschl.
181. Acalypha hellwigii Warb.
182. Acalypha herzogiana Pax & K.Hoffm.
183. Acalypha hibiscifolia Britton
184. Acalypha hispida Burm.f.
185. Acalypha hochstetteriana Müll.Arg.
186. Acalypha homblei De Wild.
187. Acalypha huillensis Pax & K.Hoffm.
188. Acalypha humbertii Leandri
189. Acalypha hutchinsonii Britton
190. Acalypha hypogaea S.Watson
191. Acalypha inaequibracteata I.Montero & Cardiel
192. Acalypha inaequilatera Cardiel
193. Acalypha indica L.
194. Acalypha infesta Poepp.
195. Acalypha inselbergensis Cardiel & I.Montero
196. Acalypha insulana Müll.Arg.
197. Acalypha integrifolia Willd.
198. Acalypha intermedia De Wild.
199. Acalypha isaloensis I.Montero & Cardiel
200. Acalypha jerzedowskii Calderón
201. Acalypha jubifera Rusby
202. Acalypha karwinskii Müll.Arg.
203. Acalypha katharinae Pax
204. Acalypha kerrii Craib
205. Acalypha klotzschii Baill.
206. Acalypha × koraensis Radcl.-Sm.
207. Acalypha laevigata Sw.
208. Acalypha lagascana Müll.Arg.
209. Acalypha lagopus McVaugh
210. Acalypha lamiana (Leandri) I.Montero & Cardiel
211. Acalypha lanceolata Willd.
212. Acalypha lancetillae Standl.
213. Acalypha langiana Müll.Arg.
214. Acalypha laxiflora Müll.Arg.
215. Acalypha leandrii I.Montero & Cardiel
216. Acalypha leicesterfieldiensis Radcl.-Sm. & Govaerts
217. Acalypha leonii Baill.
218. Acalypha lepidopagensis Leandri
219. Acalypha lepinei Müll.Arg.
220. Acalypha leptoclada Benth.
221. Acalypha leptomyura Baill.
222. Acalypha leptopoda Müll.Arg.
223. Acalypha leptorhachis Müll.Arg.
224. Acalypha levinii I.Montero & Cardiel
225. Acalypha liebmanniana Müll.Arg.
226. Acalypha lignosa Brandegee
227. Acalypha lindeniana Müll.Arg.
228. Acalypha linearifolia Leandri
229. Acalypha longipes S.Watson
230. Acalypha longipetiolata Cardiel
231. Acalypha longispica Warb.
232. Acalypha longispicata Müll.Arg.
233. Acalypha longistipularis Müll.Arg.
234. Acalypha lovelandii (McVaugh) McVaugh
235. Acalypha lycioides Pax & K.Hoffm.
236. Acalypha lyonsii P.I.Forst.
237. Acalypha machiensis Cardiel & P.Muñoz
238. Acalypha macrodonta Müll.Arg.
239. Acalypha macrostachya Jacq.
240. Acalypha macrostachyoides Müll.Arg.
241. Acalypha macularis Pax & K.Hoffm.
242. Acalypha maestrensis Urb.
243. Acalypha magistri I.Montero & Cardiel
244. Acalypha mairei (H.Lév.) C.K.Schneid.
245. Acalypha malabarica Müll.Arg.
246. Acalypha × malawiensis Radcl.-Sm.
247. Acalypha manniana Müll.Arg.
248. Acalypha marginata (Poir.) Spreng.
249. Acalypha marissima M.G.Gilbert
250. Acalypha martiana Müll.Arg.
251. Acalypha matsudae Hayata
252. Acalypha mayottensis I.Montero & Cardiel
253. Acalypha medibracteata Radcl.-Sm. & Govaerts
254. Acalypha melochiifolia Müll.Arg.
255. Acalypha membranacea A.Rich.
256. Acalypha menavody (Leandri) I.Montero & Cardiel
257. Acalypha mexicana Müll.Arg.
258. Acalypha michoacanensis Sessé & Moc.
259. Acalypha microcephala Müll.Arg.
260. Acalypha microphylla Klotzsch
261. Acalypha mogotensis Urb.
262. Acalypha mollis Kunth
263. Acalypha monococca (Engelm. ex A.Gray) Lill.W.Mill. & Gandhi
264. Acalypha monostachya Cav.
265. Acalypha mortoniana Lundell
266. Acalypha muelleriana Urb.
267. Acalypha multicaulis Müll.Arg.
268. Acalypha multifida N.E.Br.
269. Acalypha multispicata S.Watson
270. Acalypha mutisii Cardiel
271. Acalypha nana (Müll.Arg.) Griseb. ex Hutch.
272. Acalypha neeana Cardiel & P.Muñoz
273. Acalypha nemorum F.Muell. ex Müll.Arg.
274. Acalypha neomexicana Müll.Arg.
275. Acalypha neptunica Müll.Arg.
276. Acalypha nervulosa Airy Shaw
277. Acalypha novoguineensis Warb.
278. Acalypha nubicola McVaugh
279. Acalypha nusbaumeri I.Montero & Cardiel
280. Acalypha nyasica Hutch.
281. Acalypha oblancifolia Lundell
282. Acalypha obscura Müll.Arg.
283. Acalypha ocymoides Kunth
284. Acalypha oligantha Müll.Arg.
285. Acalypha oligodonta Müll.Arg.
286. Acalypha oreopola Greenm.
287. Acalypha ornata Hochst. ex A.Rich.
288. Acalypha padifolia Kunth
289. Acalypha palauensis (Fosberg) G.A.Levin
290. Acalypha pallescens Urb.
291. Acalypha palmeri Pax & K.Hoffm.
292. Acalypha pancheriana Baill.
293. Acalypha paniculata Miq.
294. Acalypha papillosa Rose
295. Acalypha parvula Hook.f.
296. Acalypha patens Müll.Arg.
297. Acalypha paucifolia Baker & Hutch.
298. Acalypha paupercula Pax & K.Hoffm.
299. Acalypha peckoltii Müll.Arg.
300. Acalypha pedemontana Cardiel & I.Montero
301. Acalypha peduncularis E.Mey. ex C.Krauss
302. Acalypha pendula C.Wright ex Griseb.
303. Acalypha perrieri Leandri
304. Acalypha persimilis Müll.Arg.
305. Acalypha peruviana Müll.Arg.
306. Acalypha pervilleana Baill.
307. Acalypha petiolaris Hochst.
308. Acalypha phleoides Cav.
309. Acalypha phyllonomifolia Airy Shaw
310. Acalypha pilosa Cav.
311. Acalypha pippenii McVaugh
312. Acalypha pittieri Pax & K.Hoffm.
313. Acalypha platyphylla Müll.Arg.
314. Acalypha pleiogyne Airy Shaw
315. Acalypha plicata Müll.Arg.
316. Acalypha pohliana Müll.Arg.
317. Acalypha poiretii Spreng.
318. Acalypha polymorpha Müll.Arg.
319. Acalypha polystachya Jacq.
320. Acalypha portoricensis Müll.Arg.
321. Acalypha pruinosa Urb.
322. Acalypha psamofila Cardiel, M.Nee & P.M.Rodr.
323. Acalypha pseudalopecuroides Pax & K.Hoffm.
324. Acalypha pseudovagans Pax & K.Hoffm.
325. Acalypha psilostachya Hochst. ex A.Rich.
326. Acalypha pubiflora (Klotzsch) Baill.
327. Acalypha pulchrespicata Däniker
328. Acalypha pulogensis Sagun & G.A.Levin
329. Acalypha punctata Meisn.
330. Acalypha purpurascens Kunth
331. Acalypha purpusii Brandegee
332. Acalypha pycnantha Urb.
333. Acalypha pygmaea A.Rich.
334. Acalypha rabesahalana I.Montero & Cardiel
335. Acalypha radians Torr.
336. Acalypha radicans Müll.Arg.
337. Acalypha radinostachya Donn.Sm.
338. Acalypha radula Baker
339. Acalypha rafaelensis Standl.
340. Acalypha raivavensis F.Br.
341. Acalypha rapensis F.Br.
342. Acalypha reflexa Müll.Arg.
343. Acalypha repanda Müll.Arg.
344. Acalypha retifera Standl. & L.O.Williams
345. Acalypha rheedei (J.Graham) M.R.Almeida
346. Acalypha rhombifolia Schltdl.
347. Acalypha rhomboidea Raf.
348. Acalypha richardiana Baill.
349. Acalypha riedeliana Baill.
350. Acalypha rivularis Seem.
351. Acalypha rottleroides Baill.
352. Acalypha rubrinervis Cronk
353. Acalypha rubroserrata Pax & K.Hoffm.
354. Acalypha ruiziana Müll.Arg.
355. Acalypha rupestris Urb.
356. Acalypha sabulicola Brandegee
357. Acalypha salicifolia Müll.Arg.
358. Acalypha salicina Hutch. ex Cardiel
359. Acalypha salvadorensis Standl.
360. Acalypha salviifolia Baill.
361. Acalypha saxicola Wiggins
362. Acalypha scabrosa Sw.
363. Acalypha scandens Benth.
364. Acalypha schiedeana Schltdl.
365. Acalypha schlechtendaliana Müll.Arg.
366. Acalypha schlechteri Gand.
367. Acalypha schlumbergeri Müll.Arg.
368. Acalypha schneideriana Pax & K.Hoffm.
369. Acalypha schreiteri Lillo ex Lourteig & O’Donell
370. Acalypha schultesii Cardiel
371. Acalypha segetalis Müll.Arg.
372. Acalypha sehnemii Allem & Irgang
373. Acalypha seleriana Greenm.
374. Acalypha senilis Baill.
375. Acalypha septemloba Müll.Arg.
376. Acalypha sericea Andersson
377. Acalypha sessilifolia S.Watson
378. Acalypha setosa A.Rich.
379. Acalypha siamensis Oliv. ex Gage
380. Acalypha simplicistyla Cardiel
381. Acalypha skutchii I.M.Johnst.
382. Acalypha sonderi Gand.
383. Acalypha sonderiana Müll.Arg.
384. Acalypha spachiana Baill.
385. Acalypha spectabilis Airy Shaw
386. Acalypha stachyura Pax
387. Acalypha stellata Cardiel
388. Acalypha stenoloba Müll.Arg.
389. Acalypha stenophylla K.Schum.
390. Acalypha stricta Poepp.
391. Acalypha subcastrata F.Aresch.
392. Acalypha subintegra Airy Shaw
393. Acalypha subscandens Rusby
394. Acalypha subterranea Paul G.Wilson
395. Acalypha subtomentosa Lag.
396. Acalypha subviscida S.Watson
397. Acalypha swallowensis Fosberg
398. Acalypha synoica Pax & K.Hoffm.
399. Acalypha tacanensis Lundell
400. Acalypha tenuicauda Pax & K.Hoffm.
401. Acalypha tenuifolia Müll.Arg.
402. Acalypha tomentosa Sw.
403. Acalypha trachyloba Müll.Arg.
404. Acalypha tremula I.Montero & Cardiel
405. Acalypha tricholoba Müll.Arg.
406. Acalypha trilaciniata Paul G.Wilson
407. Acalypha triloba Müll.Arg.
408. Acalypha uleana L.B.Sm. & Downs
409. Acalypha umbrosa Brandegee
410. Acalypha urophylla Baill.
411. Acalypha vagans Cav.
412. Acalypha vallartae McVaugh
413. Acalypha variabilis Klotzsch ex Baill.
414. Acalypha velamea Baill.
415. Acalypha velutina Hook.f.
416. Acalypha venezuelica Cardiel
417. Acalypha verbenacea Standl.
418. Acalypha veronicoides Pax & K.Hoffm.
419. Acalypha villosa Jacq.
420. Acalypha virgata L.
421. Acalypha virginica L.
422. Acalypha volkensii Pax
423. Acalypha vulneraria Baill.
424. Acalypha websteri Cardiel
425. Acalypha welwitschiana Müll.Arg.
426. Acalypha wigginsii G.L.Webster
427. Acalypha wilderi Merr.
428. Acalypha wilkesiana Müll.Arg.
429. Acalypha wilmsii Pax ex Prain & Hutch.
430. Acalypha wui H.S.Kiu
431. Acalypha zeyheri Baill.
432. Acalypha zollingeri Müll.Arg.

My Experiences with Acalypha

I’ve had the pleasure of cultivating several Acalypha species in my own garden. The experience has been nothing short of rewarding. Watching these plants flourish under my care brings a sense of satisfaction that’s hard to describe.

One of my favorite species is Acalypha wilkesiana. Its colorful foliage adds a touch of the tropics to my garden, even on the dreariest days. I’ve found it to be relatively low-maintenance, requiring only regular watering and occasional fertilization.

Another species I admire is Acalypha hispida. Its long, cascading red flowers are a sight to behold. They add a dramatic flair to my garden and attract a variety of pollinators.

The Joys of Cultivating Acalypha

Growing Acalypha has been a journey of learning and discovery. I’ve learned about their preferred growing conditions, their propagation methods, and even their susceptibility to certain pests and diseases. This hands-on experience has deepened my appreciation for these plants and the intricate world of botany.

One of the most satisfying aspects of cultivating Acalypha is propagating them. I’ve successfully propagated several species from cuttings, which is a simple and effective method. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness new life sprout from a cutting I’ve taken.

Acalypha: More Than Just a Plant

To me, Acalypha represents more than just a genus of plants. It symbolizes the incredible diversity of the natural world and the endless possibilities it holds. It’s a reminder that beauty can be found in the most unexpected places.

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a curious beginner, I encourage you to explore the world of Acalypha. You might be surprised by what you discover. These plants offer a unique blend of beauty, resilience, and variety, making them a worthwhile addition to any garden or plant collection.