Common Name:

General Information

Acalypha fruticosa is an erect, stiff, densely branched, shrub or small tree growing up to 4 metres tall. The plant often has yellow resinous glands on the lower leaf surface which give off an unpleasant smell when crushed[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of basketry material.
Acalypha fruticosa has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

East tropical Africa - Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, to Mozambique and Namibia; E. Asia - S. India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar.

Habitat

Common in moist spots within dry areas, e.g. at woodland edges in lowland as an undershrub, in bushland thicket near the coast and on overgrazed land, at elevations from sea level to 1,800 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	3.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant has a strong, foetid smell when bruised[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked[]. The leaves are collected, chopped and boiled and served with a staple or mixed with other vegetables such as beans or peas. Sometimes pounded simsim or groundnuts are added to make it more palatable[].
Leaves and young shoots. They are cut into small pieces and cooked with salt and chilli, and garnished with mustard seeds, curry leaves and onions in oil[].

The dried leaves are used as a substitute for tea[].

Medicinal

The plant is often used locally in traditional medicine. Research carried out has demonstrated the presence of medically active compounds.
An aqueous leaf extract showed significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis in vitro[].
In tests, the methanol leaf extract showed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity[].
The root extract did not show any antifungal activity[].

The roots are washed and boiled and the liquid is drunk to treat fevers and colds, convulsions, cholera, VD, stomach problems, whooping cough, snake bites etc[, ]. The root is boiled in goat bone soup, which is then drunk to treat liver problems, and stomach-ache caused by eating too much honey[].
The liquid can also be applied to the eyes to treat conjunctivitis[].

The stems and roots are chewed to treat toothache[, ].

The leaves are alterative and make an agreeable stomachic in the treatment of dyspepsia and other ailments[]. A filtrate of the macerated leaves, in water or milk, is taken to treat constipation[]. A leaf infusion is taken to treat stomach problems and swellings of the body[]. Leaf sap is swallowed or used as nose drops to treat cough and chest problems[].
A leaf maceration is used as eye-drops to treat eye infections[].
The ground-up leaves are applied as a paste to scabies and sores[].

Agroforestry Uses:

In laboratory experiments larvae of several species of livestock ticks were particularly attracted to the odour of this plant[]. Larvae, especially of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, are commonly found on the plant in the wild[].

Other Uses

The stems are used for weaving granaries and local doors, or as withies[].

The stems are used to make arrow shafts[].

Propagation

Seed -

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