Indian acalypha
Acalypha indica

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 grows in hot places. They occur as a weed and are found throughout the Philippines in waste places. In tropical Africa it grows up to 1,350 m altitude. It can grow in arid places. It grows in sunny waste places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Asia, Bangladesh, Botswana, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Cambodia, Central Africa, China, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Guyana, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Philippines, SE Asia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor, Uganda, Vietnam, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten cooked as a vegetable. CAUTION: The plant contains glucosides which cause cancer.

It is a cultivated food plant.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Alcalifa, Biralkatshi, Bogus-damohan, Brennkraut, Chika mas, Copperleaf, Dadano, Harita-manjari, Hurita munjari, Indian nettle, Khokli, Khotka, Khotke, Kkokhali, Koopay maynei, Kuppaimeni, Kuppi gida, Kuppi, Kuppichettu, Kyaung-se-pin, Kyaung-yo-the, Lelatang, Muktajhuri, Poonamayakki, Ricinela, Rumput lis-lis, Swetbasanta, Tam ye tuaopu, Tamyae maeo, Three-seeded mercury

Synonyms

Acalypha bailloniana Mull. Arg.; Acalypha somalium Mull. Arg.;