Jacob's-coat

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Jacob's-coat
• beefsteakplant
• copperleaf
• fire-dragon
• Painted Copperleaf
• Redleaf

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Acalypha chantrieri
• Acalypha wilkesiana f. monstrosa
• Acalypha macafeeana
• Acalypha musaica
• Acalypha torta
• Ricinocarpus wilkesianus
• Acalypha morfontanensis
• Acalypha wilkesiana f. circinata
• Acalypha wilkesiana f. illustris
• Acalypha wilkesiana f. macrophylla
• Acalypha wilkesiana var. marginata
• Acalypha wilkesiana f. triumphans
• Acalypha triumphans
• Acalypha tricolor
• Acalypha amentacea f. circinata
• Acalypha amentacea subsp. wilkesiana
• Acalypha compacta
• Acalypha godseffiana
• Acalypha hamiltoniana
• Acalypha godseffiana var. heterophylla
• Acalypha wilkesiana f. appendiculata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Malpighiales, it is classified under the family Euphorbiaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Acalypha.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning several distinct tropical regions. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is noted specifically within Guinea. The distribution extends into West-Central Tropical Africa, where it can be found throughout the Gulf of Guinea Islands, Rwanda, and the DR Congo. Furthermore, its reach continues into the Western Indian Ocean, specifically encompassing the Comoros. Together, these locations highlight the plant's widespread availability across different African landscapes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Acalypha wilkesiana is characterized by its adaptability to diverse tropical environments, primarily thriving in lowland and coastal regions. It occupies a specific altitudinal niche, typically found at elevations ranging from 0 m to a maximum of 1000 m AMSL. This plant flourishes in warm, humid climates with high levels of solar radiation, which is essential for the development of its vibrant, variegated foliage. It is commonly found in forest margins, disturbed areas, and anthropogenic landscapes where soil moisture is consistent but well-drained. The species demonstrates a strong preference for nutrient-rich, acidic to neutral soils and is well-suited to tropical rainforest ecosystems and secondary growth habitats where it can compete effectively for light.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Acalypha wilkesiana is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its presence across multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its buds are borne on branches above the ground, a structural trait that supports its robust growth habit. It is further classified as a nanophanerophyte, reflecting its specific stature and branching architecture within its ecosystem. Throughout its life cycle, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage year-round rather than undergoing a seasonal shedding of leaves.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Acalypha wilkesiana is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub that functions as a self-supporting plant. It is a terrestrial species, neither aquatic nor epiphytic, and grows independently without parasitic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variation in height, typically ranging from a minimum of 1 m to a maximum of 4 m, with an average plant height of approximately 2.33 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4 m

Plant height mean:

2.33333333333333 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Acalypha wilkesiana is characterized by specific morphological dimensions and metabolic traits that define its growth patterns. The leaves exhibit significant variability in size, with a mean length of 14 cm and a range extending from a minimum of 10 cm to a maximum of 18 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 6 cm and a maximum of 12 cm, maintaining a mean width of 9 cm. Regarding its water storage and nutrient acquisition strategies, the plant is non-succulent, lacking specialized fleshy tissues for water retention. Furthermore, it does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form.

Leaf length max:

18 cm

Leaf length mean:

14 cm

Leaf length min:

10 cm

Leaf width max:

12 cm

Leaf width mean:

9 cm

Leaf width min:

6 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

Reproduction in Acalypha wilkesiana involves the development of small, specialized fruits that play a critical role in the plant's life cycle. The fruit maintains a consistent morphology, characterized by a uniform width across its developmental range, with a minimum, mean, and maximum width all measured at approximately 0.4 cm. Regarding the movement of these reproductive units, the plant exhibits a complex dispersal syndrome; while it can be influenced by various natural mechanisms, it is notably classified as anthropochorous, indicating that human activity plays a significant role in its dispersal, alongside a spectrum of other potential modes such as anemochorous, autochorous, and zoochorous processes.

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Fruit width max:

0.4 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Acalypha wilkesiana has 2 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Nigerian journal of physiological sciences : official publication of the Physiological Society of Nigeria
3. African journal of infectious diseases
4. Frontiers in veterinary science
5. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Root

1. Journal of diabetes research

Chemicals

Acalypha wilkesiana has 15 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+)-catechin, (-)-Epicatechin, Anthraquinones, Corilagin, Flavonoids.

(+)-catechin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

(-)-Epicatechin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anthraquinones

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Corilagin

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Flavonoids

1. Heliyon

Gallic acid

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Geraniin

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Phenols

1. Heliyon

Saponins

1. Heliyon

TANNIC ACID

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Acalypha wilkesiana has 8 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Analgesic, Antifungal, Antioxidant.

Antibacterial

1. African journal of health sciences
2. Frontiers in veterinary science
3. Heliyon

Antimicrobial

1. International journal of oncology
2. Heliyon

Analgesic

1. Nigerian journal of physiological sciences : official publication of the Physiological Society of Nigeria

Antifungal

1. African journal of health sciences

Antioxidant

1. International journal of oncology

Antipyretic

1. Nigerian journal of physiological sciences : official publication of the Physiological Society of Nigeria

Cytotoxic

1. International journal of oncology

Hypoglycemic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Acalypha wilkesiana has 20 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus flavus, Candida albicans, Klebsiella pneumoniae, MRSA.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations