Family: Euphorbiaceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 1003 (1753)
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Acalypha
Vegetable: Unknown
Observations: Eritrea to S. Africa, Arabian Pen. to Trop. & Subtrop. Asia
Description
Indian Acalypha, known scientifically as Acalypha indica, is a remarkable plant belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family. With a rich history of identification dating back to 1753 as recorded in “Species Plantarum,” this plant has garnered attention for its widespread occurrence and diverse applications.
This species is native to a broad geographic range from Eritrea to Southern Africa, extending to the Arabian Peninsula and encompassing tropical and subtropical regions of Asia. The Indian Acalypha thrives in various environments, making it a versatile and resilient plant.
Indian Acalypha is renowned for its distinctive features and potential benefits. Traditionally, parts of the plant are used in various cultural remedies and medicinal practices. It has been incorporated into traditional medicine systems for its purported health benefits, including its use as a natural remedy for skin conditions, respiratory issues, and other ailments. The leaves of Acalypha indica are often applied to the skin or ingested in various traditional preparations.
Moreover, this plant also finds mention in agricultural practices. It is sometimes used as a natural pesticide and has properties that may help in managing soil health and fertility. Its ability to grow in diverse soil types contributes to its utility in sustainable agricultural practices.
In summary, Acalypha indica, or Indian Acalypha, is a noteworthy plant both for its extensive geographical spread and its traditional applications in medicine and agriculture. Its resilient nature and the wide array of uses continue to make it a subject of interest in botanical and ethnobotanical studies.
Common Names
Deu: brennkraut, indisches kupferblatt
Eng: indian acalypha, indian copperleaf, indian-nettle, copperleaf, three-seeded-mercury
Spa: hierba de cancer, ricinela
En: Indian acalypha, Indian-nettle, Copperleaf, Three-seeded-mercury, Poiret’s copperleaf, Indian copperleaf, India Copperleaf
Bn: মুক্তাঝুরি
My: ကြောင်ရိုသေပင်
Zh: 印度铁苋, 热带铁苋菜
Dv: ވަށްފުފުޅި
Fr: Acalyphe d’Inde
De: Brennkraut, Indisches Kupferblatt
Hi: खोकली
Id: Kucing galak
Jv: Kucing galak (tetuwuhan)
Kn: ಕುಪ್ಪಿಗಿಡ
Ms: Pokok Kucing Galak
Ml: കുപ്പമേനി
Or: ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରମାରିସ
Fa: آکالیفا هندی
Pt-br: Alcalifa
Ru: Акалифа индийская
Si: කුප්පමේනිය
Es: Hierba de cancer, Ricinela
Zh-tw: 印度鐵莧
Ta: குப்பைமேனி
Te: మురిపిండి
Th: กัญชาแมว
Zh-hant: 熱帶鐵莧菜
Vi: Tai tượng Ấn
Synonyms
- Acalypha canescens (Benth.)
- Ricinocarpus indicus ((L.) Kuntze)
- Acalypha somalensis (Pax)
- Acalypha somalium (Müll.Arg.)
- Ricinocarpus deciduus ((Forssk.) Kuntze)
- Acalypha ciliata (Benth.)
- Cupamenis indica ((L.) Raf.)
- Acalypha cupamenii (Dragend.)
- Acalypha decidua (Forssk.)
- Acalypha fimbriata (Baill.)
Distribution
- Andaman Is. (native)
- Angola (native)
- Assam (native)
- Bangladesh (native)
- Botswana (native)
- Cambodia (native)
- Cape Provinces (native)
- Djibouti (native)
- Eritrea (native)
- Ethiopia (native)
- Hainan (native)
- India (native)
- Jawa (native)
- Kenya (native)
- KwaZulu-Natal (native)
- Laccadive Is. (native)
- Lesser Sunda Is. (native)
- Malawi (native)
- Malaya (native)
- Maldives (native)
- Maluku (native)
- Mozambique (native)
- Myanmar (native)
- Namibia (native)
- Nansei-shoto (native)
- Nepal (native)
- New Guinea (native)
- Nicobar Is. (native)
- Northern Provinces (native)
- Oman (native)
- Pakistan (native)
- Philippines (native)
- Saudi Arabia (native)
- Socotra (native)
- Somalia (native)
- South China Sea (native)
- Sri Lanka (native)
- Sudan (native)
- Sulawesi (native)
- Sumatera (native)
- Swaziland (native)
- Taiwan (native)
- Tanzania (native)
- Thailand (native)
- Uganda (native)
- Vietnam (native)
- Zambia (native)
- Zaïre (native)
- Zimbabwe (native)
- Caroline Is. (introduced)
- Chagos Archipelago (introduced)
- Christmas I. (introduced)
- Cocos (Keeling) Is. (introduced)
- Comoros (introduced)
- Cuba (introduced)
- Leeward Is. (introduced)
- Madagascar (introduced)
- Marianas (introduced)
- Mauritius (introduced)
- Mexico Central (introduced)
- Mexico Northeast (introduced)
- Mexico Northwest (introduced)
- Mexico Southeast (introduced)
- Mexico Southwest (introduced)
- Puerto Rico (introduced)
- Réunion (introduced)
- Samoa (introduced)
- Seychelles (introduced)
- Windward Is. (introduced)
Additional Images
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Flower
Taken Feb 2, 2018 by huy HO (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 20, 2019 by prithvijit (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 29, 2021 by Moreno Mariana (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 19, 2019 by Pankaj kumar Yadav (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Bart Wursten (cc-by-nc)
Leaf
Taken Aug 31, 2021 by Tanguy Bebert (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 21, 2019 by YudhaKN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 31, 2021 by andrea kick (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 26, 2020 by achmad afandy (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 26, 2021 by HEMANTH Inukonda Kamalakannan (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Feb 2, 2018 by huy HO (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Mar 8, 2021 by pratiwir pratiwir (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 28, 2020 by pratiwir pratiwir (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 1, 2022 by pratiwir pratiwir (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 11, 2019 by Quyền Nguyễn Hùng (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 23, 2021 by Fadlan Solichin (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Keystone Foundation (cc-by)
Taken Dec 18, 2012 by EOL − P.Santhan (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Oct 24, 2021 by pratiwir pratiwir (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Bart Wursten (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jul 26, 2013 by EOL − santhan P (cc-by-nc-sa)
Fruit
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Bart Wursten (cc-by-nc)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:337497-1)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3056259)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Acalypha indica L.)
