292 A FLORA OF MAlfllLA 



10 to 12 mm wide, densely stellate-pubescent. (Fl. Filip. pi. A6S, Mercadoa 

 mandalojonensia. ) 



In thickets, Masambong, fl. May. Of local occurrence in the Philippines. 

 Malaya. 



14. ACALYPHA Linnaeus 



Herbs, shrubs, or trees, with alternate, toothed or crenate, 3- to 6-pli- 

 nerved or penninerved leaves. Flowers very small in axillary spikes, monoe- 

 cious, rarely dioecious, without petals. Male flowers very small, ebracteate. 

 Calyx thin, splitting into 4 valvate sepals. Disk none. Stamens 8 or many, 

 on a convex receptacle; filaments free. Rudimentary ovary none. Female 

 flowers at the base of the male spike or more often in separate ones, often 

 vsdth large, accrescent leafy bracts. Sepals 3 or 4, very small. Ovary 3- 

 celled; styles slender, often very long and laciniate or fimbriate; ovules 1 in 

 each cell. Capsule of 3, small, crustaceous, 2-valved cocci. (Prom an 

 ancient Greek name of the nettle.) 



Species about 300 in tropical and subtropical regions of both hemispheres, 

 8 or more in the Philippines. 



1. Herbs. 

 2. Spikes 6 to 6 cm long; bracts distant, glabrous or nearly so. 



1. A. indica 

 2. Spikes 1 to 2 cm long, dense; bracts close, somewhat imbricate, densely 



pubescent :. 2. A. boehnieroidea 



1, Shrubs or undershrubs. 



2. Spikes pendulous, purple, dense, about 1 cm in diameter, up to 40 cm 



in length „ , ; 3. A. hUpida 



2. Spikes slender, 10 to 20 cm long less than 6 mm in diameter. 



4. Leaves broadly oyate, variously mottled with red and purple. 



4. A. wilkeaiana 

 4. Leaves oblong-ovate to ovate-lanceolate, green...... 6. A, atirndacea 



1, A. INDICA L. 



An erect, simple or branched, somewhat appressed-pubescent, annual 

 herb, 30 to 80 cm high. Leaves long-petioled, ovate, crenate-serrate, acute 

 or obtuse, base acute, entire, 3 to 6 cm long, shorter than the petioles. 

 Spikes axillary, solitary, erect, 4 to 8 cm long. Male flowers few, small, 

 terminal. Bracts few to many, distant, green, glabrous or nearly so, 5 

 to 6 mm long, crenate, reniform when spread, each with 1 or more female 

 flowers. Capsules about 2 mm long, slightly hispid. (Fl. Filip. pi. 266.) 



In waste places, fl. all the year; widely distributed in the Philippines, 

 undoubtedly introduced. Tropical Africa, through tropical Asia to Ma- 

 laya. 



2. A. BOEHMEROIDES Miq. 



An erect, simple, rarely branched, annual, appressed-pubescent herb 20 

 to 80 cm high. Leaves 2 to 7 cm long, long-petioled, ovate to oblong- 

 ovate, acuminate, base acute, entire, margins dentate. Spikes axillary, 

 usually solitary, dense, 1 to 2 cm long. Male flowers few, at the apices of 

 the spikes. Bracts numerous, crowded, somewhat imbricate, rather densely 

 pubescent, 4 to 5 mm long, toothed, reniform when spread. Capsules 

 much shorter than the bracts, hirsute. 



In waste places, fl. all the year; of local occurrence in and about towns 

 in the Philippines, probably introduced. Malaya. 



