Joseph's coat
Acalypha caturus

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.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in open places in forests. It grows below 100-200 m above sea level. It is usually in seasonally dry climates. It grows on limestone.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Tropical, Taiwan

How it is used for food

The leaves are steamed and eaten. The fruit are also cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable, fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Akalifa hanjawan, Ambugtunong, Bunga halaman, Goprak, Jian wei tie cai, Kalangkongan, Kanjawan, Malasapsap, Migtanong, Pohon hanjawan

Synonyms

Acalypha cardiophylla Merr.; Acalypha cardiophylla var. ponapensis (Kaneh. & Hatus.) Fosberg; Acalypha caturus forma angustifolia J. J. Sm.; Acalypha cinnamomifolia Pax & K. Hoffm.; Acalypha cinnamomifolia var. induta Airy Shaw; Acalypha grandis Bentham var. kotoensis (Hayata) Hurusawa; Acalypha grandis var. longiacuminata (Hayata) Hurusawa; Acalypha kotoensis Hayata; Acalypha longiacuminata Hayata; Acalypha minahassae Koord.; Acalypha ponapensis Kaneh. & Hatus.; Acalypha similis Koord.; Acalypha subcinerea Elmer; Caturus spiciflorus L.; Ricinocarpus caturus (Blume) Kuntze [Illegitimate]; Ricinocarpus spiciflorus (L.) Kuntze;