Birch leaved acalypha
Acalypha fruticosa
Family: Euphorbiaceae
What it is like
A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.
There are over 450 Acalypha species. They are tropical. There are 225 in tropical America. The leaves are also used as medicine.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in moist spots in arid areas. It grows from sea level to 1,800 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Asia, Botswana, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Maldives, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania
How it is used for food
The young leaves are cooked as a vegetable. They are chopped and boiled and mixed with other vegetables or the staple food. The dried leaves are used for tea.
Edible parts
Leaves, vegetable
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Dhikri, Gonasokola, Keryaya hola, Kuppameni, Mfulwe, Mhacha, Mkima-dimbya, Ndyavadimi, Nyautitili, Pan-lahpet, Shaiti