WZ Euphorb Copperleaf

Welcome to Catnapin's

Most Excellent Weed Gallery

The Euphorbs - Copperleaf

The flower parts of the Euphorbiaceae family are complex. What looks like a flower petal is made up of the nectar gland and the gland appendage. The nectar glands attract and reward insects to pollinate. From the center of the "flower" a single, 3 lobed pod grows out on a stem. Be careful, many Euphorbs have a milky sap that can irritate your skin.

Shrubby Copperleaf, Acalypha phleoides (1)

Shrubby Copperleaf, Acalypha phleoides (2)

Shrubby Copperleaf, Acalypha phleoides (3)

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family
Shrubby Copperleaf Acalypha phleoides (Acalypha lindheimeri)
Flower spike about 2" long. Red male flowers are above female flowers, which are just the fuzzy parts. Plant grows to about 2 feet tall.
Photos taken in Val Verde County, Texas, August 2005 (a wet summer)
(Native of Texas - Val Verde - Taylor, Coleman, Brown, Coke)

Similar Species

Pineland Threeseed Mercury Acalypha ostryifolia
Female flower spike terminal or auxiliary, green to pinkish. Tiny white male flower spikes auxiliary. Bristly fruit, round, green. Round to heart-shaped leaves with serrated edge.
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Coleman, Brown, Coke)

Slender Copperleaf, Acalypha gracilens, VZ

Slender Copperleaf, Acalypha gracilens, VZ (2)

Slender Copperleaf, Acalypha gracilens, VZ (6)

Slender Copperleaf, Acalypha gracilens, VZ (5)

Slender Copperleaf, Acalypha gracilens, VZ (9)

Slender Copperleaf, Acalypha gracilens, VZ (8)

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family
Slender One-seed Copperleaf Acalypha gracilens var. monococca (Acalypha monococca)
Tiny flowers on a stick protrude out of the toothed bracts that enclose the three round seeds. Leaves up to 2" long. Leaves, bracts, and stem can be green to copper-red. Stem to 16" tall, simple or branching, grows from taproot with fibrous roots.
Photos taken in Van Zandt County, Texas, November 2006
(Native of east Texas)

Email:
wildflowers"at"catnapin.com
to reduce spam, change "at" to @
please be specific