chenille plant

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Philippine-medusa
• chenilleplant
• red-cattail
• red-hot-cattail

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ricinocarpus hispidus
• Ricinocarpus spiciflorus
• Acalypha hispida var. sanderi
• Caturus spiciflorus
• Acalypha sanderi
• Acalypha sanderi alba

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Malpighiales and is a member of the family Euphorbiaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Acalypha.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is noted in countries such as Benin and Gambia. Moving toward the center of the continent, it can also be found within West-Central Tropical Africa. Specifically, its range extends to Burundi and Equatorial Guinea within this central zone. Additionally, the species is distributed throughout the Gulf of Guinea Islands.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Acalypha hispida is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad altitudinal gradient, occupying diverse landscapes ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1600 m AMSL. This extensive elevational range, spanning from 0 m AMSL to 1600 m AMSL, allows the species to adapt to varying climatic conditions, including different temperature regimes and moisture availability found in lowland to montane environments. Typically found in disturbed areas, forest edges, and tropical habitats, its distribution is closely tied to its capacity to colonize open spaces and respond to varying levels of solar radiation and soil compositions found across these different elevations.

Elevational range max:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Acalypha hispida is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth habit and survival strategy, the plant exhibits characteristics of both phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte life forms, utilizing its branching woody stems to maintain its stature and reproductive capacity over time.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Acalypha hispida is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub that functions as a self-supporting plant rather than a climbing vine or liana. It is an independent organism, meaning it does not exhibit parasitic behavior, and it is strictly a terrestrial species rather than an aquatic or epiphytic one. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant variation in height, ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 3 m, with an average plant height of approximately 1.875 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

1.875 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Acalypha hispida is characterized by specific vegetative dimensions and metabolic attributes that define its growth patterns. The foliage exhibits significant morphological variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 8 cm to a mean of 14 cm, reaching a maximum of 20 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width demonstrates a broad spectrum, starting from a minimum of 5 cm to a mean of 9.5 cm, with a maximum width extending up to 14 cm. In terms of water storage and tissue composition, the plant is not classified as succulent, indicating a standard non-succulent cellular structure for moisture retention. Furthermore, the plant does not possess the physiological mechanism to act as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external nitrogen sources from the soil rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing processes.

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length mean:

14 cm

Leaf length min:

8 cm

Leaf width max:

14 cm

Leaf width mean:

9.5 cm

Leaf width min:

5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Acalypha hispida is characterized by specific biological mechanisms regarding pollination and seed movement. In terms of its reproductive strategy, self-fertilization is noted as being absent, implying a reliance on external agents for genetic exchange. The dispersal of its seeds follows an autochorous syndrome, meaning the plant utilizes autochorous mechanisms for seed dispersal, where the seeds are released or scattered by the plant's own internal processes rather than relying on external vectors like wind, water, or animals. This autochorous trait is consistently identified across its dispersal syndromes, indicating a specialized reliance on self-dispersal methods to propagate within its environment.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Acalypha hispida has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, leaf.

Flower

1. Phytochemistry

Leaf

1. Advanced pharmaceutical bulletin

Chemicals

Acalypha hispida has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Corilagin, Cyanidin 3-O-beta-galactopyranoside, Flavonoid, Gallic acid, Geraniin.

Corilagin

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Cyanidin 3-O-beta-galactopyranoside

1. Phytochemistry

Flavonoid

1. Advanced pharmaceutical bulletin

Gallic acid

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Geraniin

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Polyphenol

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Quercetin 3-O-rutinoside

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

ellagic acid

1. Advanced pharmaceutical bulletin

Medicinal Uses

Acalypha hispida has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Inflammation, atherosclerosis, cancer, oxidative stress.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations