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Acalypha hispida
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Family:
EUPHORBIACEAE
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Citation: Acalypha hispida Burm.f., Fl. Ind. 303. 1768; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 5: 417. 1887; Manilal & Sivar., Fl. Calicut 268. 1982; Babu, Fl. Malappuram Dist. 702. 1990; Sivar. & Mathew, Fl. Nilambur 603. 1997; N.P.Balakr. & Chakrab., Fam. Euphorbiaceae India 127. 2007; Sunil & Sivadasan, Fl. Alappuzha Dist. 617. 2009.
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Malayalam Name(s):
Poochavalan, Vattapoonthaliyari
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Tamil name(s):
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English name(s):
Cat's tail, Chenille plant, Red-hot cat's tail, Foxtail, Red Hot Poker
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Description:
Dioecious shrubs to 2-4 m tall. Stipules persistent, ovate to elliptic, c. 8 by 13 mm, midrib hairy, without capitate trichomes. Leaves alternate, 12-25 x 9-18 cm, ovate to elliptic, chartaceous; base slightly cordate to obtuse, margin serrate to deeply crenate with a gland on tooth tip, apex acute to acuminate, surface; 3 ribbed at base, lateral nerves 5-8 pairs; petiole 10-15 cm long. Inflorescences axillary, 1 per axil, spicate, straight, densely flowered, rachises usually hidden by flowers; peduncle 17-30 mm long. Pistillate flowers c. 1 mm diameter; 4-6 per node; bracts sessile, 0.5-1 by 0.5-1 mm, hairy outside, entire, apex acute. Calyx ca. 1 mm diameter, sepals (3 or) 4, ovate to elliptic, c. 0.5 by 0.3 mm, hairy outside. Ovary globose to oblate, trilocular; stigmas 3, 5-8 mm long, each divided 6-16 times, smooth. Bisexual flowers and fruits unknown.
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Habit:
Shrub
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Flowering & Fruiting:
Throughout the year
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District(s):
All Districts
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Medicinal:
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Habitat:
Grown as ornamental plant
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Distribution:
Native of Papua New Guinea; introduced as garden plant elsewhere
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Aquatic:
No
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Epiphyte(s):
No
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Saprophyte:
No
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Stem parasite:
No
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Root parasite:
No
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Flower colour(s):
Red
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Weed:
No
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Monocot/Dicot:
Dicotyledonous Plants
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Exotic:
Yes
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Garden:
Yes
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Edible:
No
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Vegetable:
No
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Endemic to:
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IUCN status:
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Altitude:
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Localities:
Thumbapuram
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