Acalypha wilkesiana Müll.Arg.

Acalypha wilkesiana Müll.Arg. 

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Latin Name: Acalypha wilkesiana Müll.Arg.; Family Euphorbiaceae.

Synonym Name: Acalypha amentacea f. circinata (Müll.Arg.) Fosberg; Acalypha amentacea subsp. wilkesiana (Müll.Arg.) Fosberg; Acalypha circinata A.Gray ex Seem.; Acalypha compacta Guilf. ex C.T.White; Acalypha godseffiana Mast.; Acalypha godseffiana var. heterophylla L.H.Bailey; Acalypha hamiltoniana Bruant; Acalypha illustris Pax & K.Hoffm.; Acalypha macafeeana Veitch; Acalypha macrophylla Veitch; Acalypha marginata (Mill.) J.J.Sm.; Acalypha musaica auct.; Acalypha torta Pax & K.Hoffm.; Acalypha tricolor Seem.; Acalypha tricolor hort.; Acalypha triumphans L.Linden & Rodigas; Acalypha wilkesiana f. appendiculata J.W.Moore; Acalypha wilkesiana f. circinata Müll.Arg.; Acalypha wilkesiana f. illustris J.J.Sm.; Acalypha wilkesiana f. macrophylla J.J.Sm.; Acalypha wilkesiana var. marginata E.Morren; Acalypha wilkesiana f. monstrosa J.J.Sm.; Acalypha wilkesiana f. triumphans (L.Linden & Rodigas) J.J.Sm.; Ricinocarpus wilkesianus (Müll.Arg.) Kuntze     

English Name: Wilkes Copperleaf, Red Copperleaf, Painted Copperleaf, Painted Copper-leaf, Copper-leaf.

Vietnamese name: Tai Tượng đỏ

Chinese Name: Hongsang.

Description: Shrubs, 1-3 m tall, monoecious. Young branchlets pubescent. Stipules narrowly triangular, ca. 8 mm; petiole 2-3 mm, pilose; leaf blade broadly ovate, 10-18 × 6-12 cm, often colored or red- or purple spotted, abaxially pilose along veins, base obtuse, margin coarsely crenate, apex acuminate; basal veins 3-5. Inflorescences axillary, unbranched, unisexual. Male flowers 9-17, glomerate; inflorescences 10-20 cm, pilose; bracts lax, ovate, ca. 1 mm; pedicel ca. 1 cm; sepals 4, ovate, ca. 0.7 mm; stamens 8. Female flowers 1(or 2) in each bract, sessile; inflorescences 5-10 cm; peduncle ca. 2 cm; bracts broadly ovate, ca. 5 × 8 mm, 7-11-serrate; sepals 3 or 4, ovate-lanceolate, 0.5-1 mm, ciliate; ovary pubescent; styles 3, 6-7 mm, 9-15-laciniate. Capsule ca. 4 mm in diam., sparsely villous. Seeds globose, ca. 2 mm in diam., smooth. Fl. year-round. Distribution: Growing in thickets on low-altitude mountains. Widely cultivated in tropical and sub-tropical regions, belonging to garden foliage plant; cultivated in Taiwan, Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi and Yunnan.

Chemistry: Carbohydrates, Tannins and Flavonoid, a moderate presence of Phlobatannins, Saponins. Alkaloids and Cardiac glycosides and minute quanity of Terpenes and Steroids. Anthraquinone derivatives was not present. The Elemental analysis showed presence of chloride, sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc copper and mangenese in moderate quantity while cadmium and lead were not detected.

Pharmacology: antimicrobial activity.

Part Used: Medical part: leaves.

Harvest & Processing: Harvested throughout the year and sun-dried.

Properties & Actions: Pungent, bitter, cool. Clearing fever and relieving swelling.

Indications & Usage: Cough, swelling, throat pain. Oral administration: decocting, 9-15g

References

Chinese Medicinal Material Images Database

efloras.org 
Theplantlist