Acalypha hispida

Katzenschwänzchen ( Acalypha hispida )

The Katzenschwänzchen ( Acalypha hispida ), also known as Rough nettle leaf, nettle Beautiful or Paradise nettle, is a plant of the family Euphorbiaceae ( Euphorbiaceae ). The home is believed to New Guinea and they can now be found in all tropical countries as an ornamental plant, is often neglected and is suitable as a houseplant.

Description

Acalypha hispida is a branched shrub ( to 3) achieved the stature heights of up to 2 meters. The change-constant leaves are stalked. The simple leaf blade is tapered ovoid, dark green, 10 to 20 centimeters long and 7-15 centimeters wide. The leaf margin is serrated. The petiole is up to 15 inches long. The stipules are lanceolate, 6-7 mm long and brown.

Acalypha hispida is dioecious getrenntgeschlechtig ( dioecious ). The mostly red, overhanging kitten -like ( cattail -like ) inflorescence is axillary, has a diameter of 1 to 1.5 inches and is 10 to 50 inches long. In the female flowers three to four sepals are 0.7 millimeters long. The main show Effect of blooms produce the very long usually purple, 5-7 mm long scars, so only female specimens in cultivation as an ornamental plant. Creamy white blooms of the variety 'Alba'. The flowering period extends from April to October.

Ingredients and medical use

The clear milky sap is toxic and can irritate skin and mucous membranes ( poisoning symptoms after receiving massive quantities of plants on ).

Roots, leaves and flowers are used for medicinal purposes.

Pictures

Inflorescence - Acalypha hispida

Swell

• A. Radcliffe -Smith: In: Flora Zambesiaca. Volume 9 Part 4, 1996. Online. (English )