ACALYPHAS 491 



the glass on a spent hot-bed or in a sunny frame. When the bracts 

 and flowers appear manure-water should be given. These plants are 

 very sensitive to sudden changes of temperature, whether to higher 

 or lower, and should be protected from them. After flowering water 

 should be withheld, the plants kept as dry as possible, and allowed a 

 three months' rest, after which they may be subjected to increased heat, 

 and watered. The young shoots will soon appear, and may be taken off 

 for use as cuttings. 



ACALYPHAS 



Natural Order EuPHORBiACE^. Genus Acalypha 



AcALYPHA (the classical name used by Hippocrates for the Nettle). 

 A genus of about two hundred and twenty species of annual or perennial 

 shrubby plants whose leaves give them a strong resemblance to Nettles. 

 The green or reddish flowers are small and inconspicuous, arranged in 

 erect or drooping spikes from the axils of the leaves and the tips of the 

 shoots. As in Euphorbia, the male and female elements are in separate 

 flowers. The species are distributed all over the Tropical and Sub-tropical 

 Regions. Those named below are all from Polynesia, and are grown 

 on account of their richly variegated leaves. They are largely grown 

 in gardens in Tropical countries. 



Acalypha macafeeana (Macafee's). Leaves oval, red 

 Principal Species.^^^^^j^^^ ^^^ bronzy crimson. Introduced 1877. 



A. MACROPHYLLA (large-leaved). Leaves heart-shaped, russet-brown 

 with paler spots. 



A. MUSAICA (mosaic). Leaves bronzy green variegated with orange 

 and dull red. Introduced 1877. 



A. OBOVATA (reversed oval). Leaves at flrst green with creamy 

 margin, then olive with pink margin, finally bronze with broad margins 

 of rosy crimson. Introduced 1884. 



A. SANDERIANA (Sander's). A shrub with large green cordate 

 leaves and long tail-like axillary racemes of rich red flowers. A recent 

 introduction from the East Indies. 



A. WILKESIANA (Wilke's). Leaves oval, coppery green, blotched, 

 mottled and splashed with red and crimson. Introduced 1866. The 

 var. Tnarginata, introduced 1875, has larger olive-brown leaves with 

 rosy-carmine margin. 



Acalyphas succeed well if potted in a compost of loam 

 and peat, and given ordinary stove treatment. They are 



