Mhacha

Acalypha bipartita

a variety of three-seeded mercury, Acalypha bipartita, photo © by Michael Plagens

Cultivated in a vegetable garden at Kapenguria, Kenya. July 2014.

LEAVES: Alternate on stems. Margins crenulate. leaves with soft pubescence.

HERBACEOUS: Mostly herbaceous, perhaps with woody lower stems and branches on plants up to 1 meter tall

FLOWERS: The long spike is lined with numerous, small red flowers and are all males. The female flowers are set at the base surrounded by a bowl-shaped, green bract. The slender spike is about 4 to 8 cm long.

RANGE: One of many species of Acalypha found in nearly all habitats in Kenya.

FRUIT: Three-parted capsules.

UNARMED

Euphorbiaceae -- Spurge Family

More Information:


Kenya Natural History

Copyright Michael J. Plagens, Created on 20 May 2015