Copperleaf chenille, Red cattail
Acalypha hispida

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. This one is used in medicine.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It suits sheltered sites. It needs a warm location. It does not tolerate salt spray. It is damaged by frost and drought. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In South America, it grows form sea level to 2,000 m above sea level. Adelaide Botanical Gardens. In XTBG Yunnan. Slovenia Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Burkina Faso, Central America, China, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Fiji, Haiti, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Kiribati, Malaysia, Marquesas, Mozambique, Myanmar, Niue, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea (country/location of origin), Philippines, Rotuma, SE Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, Tuvalu, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Indies

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. It can be grown by tip cuttings. It can be pruned back.

Its other names

Local names

Buntot pusa, Buntut kuching, Cola de gato, Ekur kuching, Ekor kucing merah, Hahng-kra-rok-daeng, Kabi, Kyaung-hmi-pan, Moorukonda, Red-hot cat-tail, Tai tuong duoi chon, Vattattali

Synonyms

Acalypha densiflora Blume; Acalypha sanderi;