Acalypha rhomboidea Raf.
Three-seeded mercury, rhombic three-seeded mercury, rhomboid mercury, rhombic copperleaf, common threeseed mercury
Three-seeded mercury is a member of the highly variable Euphorbia family. The genus, Acalypha, is from the Greek akalyphē, meaning “nettle,” because these plants resemble nettles. The species rhomboidea refers to the rhomboid shape of the leaves. Three-seeded mercury refers to the fruits—capsules with three seeds. I have no clue where “mercury” comes from though.
Plants: Plants are 6–24″ (15–60 cm) tall, with a stem that is hairless or covered with fine white hairs.
Leaves: Alternate, lanceolate or oval with sharp tips, 3½ ⨉ 1″ (8.9 ⨉ 2.5 cm), with blunt serrations.
Flowers: Greenish-tan, and tiny—less than ⅛″ (3.2 mm) across. Although the flowers are inconspicuous, the bracts (modified leaves) surrounding them turn copper-colored, along with the stems and leaf undersides, hence the common name “copperleaf.” Plants flower from July to October.
Fruits: A 3-lobed roughly spherical fruit containing 3 seeds.
Habitats: Moist to mesic black soil prairie, openings in upland and floodplain forest, thickets, seeps, riverbanks and lake shores, limestone glades and bluffs, fields, fence rows, right-of-ways, vacant lots, and waste areas.
 |
Some similar species. |
Online References:
References:
Acalypha virginica L. var. rhomboidea (Raf.) Cooperr.
9/11/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 7″ (14 × 18 cm) 
9/27/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 11″ (18 × 27 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
9/1/2013 · Trail Near James River, Midlothian, Virginia · ≈ 5 × 8″ (12 × 19 cm) 
9/27/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 15 cm) ID is uncertain 
9/1/2013 · Trail Near James River, Midlothian, Virginia · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm) 
8/18/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (11 × 17 cm) ID is uncertain 
8/18/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 15 cm) ID is uncertain 
8/18/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 3½ × 5″ (9.2 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain 
9/1/2013 · Trail Near James River, Midlothian, Virginia · ≈ 4½ × 6″ (12 × 16 cm) 
9/11/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 7″ (15 × 17 cm) 
8/7/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 3½ × 4″ (9.4 × 10 cm) ID is uncertain 
8/18/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (11 × 17 cm) ID is uncertain 
9/11/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 8″ (16 × 20 cm) 
9/1/2013 · Trail Near James River, Midlothian, Virginia · ≈ 6 × 8″ (14 × 20 cm) 
9/27/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 11″ (20 × 27 cm) ID is uncertain 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Rosidae | Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more |
| Order | Malpighiales | A broad group encompassing 16,000 species |
| Family | Euphorbiaceae | Euphorbia or spurge family |
| Genus | Acalypha | Copperleaves or three-seeded mercuries; means “nettle” |
| Species | rhomboidea | “Diamond-shaped” leaves |
Acalypha rhomboidea description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.