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Useful Tropical Plants

Acalypha wilkesiana

Müll.Arg.

Euphorbiaceae

+ Synonyms

Acalypha amentacea circinata (Müll.Arg.) Fosberg

Acalypha amentacea wilkesiana (Müll.Arg.) Fosberg

Acalypha chantrieri André

Acalypha compacta Guilf. ex C.T.White

Acalypha godseffiana Mast.

Acalypha hamiltoniana Pynaert

Acalypha illustris Pax & K.Hoffm.

Acalypha macafeeana Veitch

Acalypha macrophylla Van Geert

Acalypha marginata (Mill.) J.J.Sm.

Acalypha morfontanensis Chantrier ex André

Acalypha musaica auct.

Acalypha torta Pax & K.Hoffm.

Acalypha tricolor Seem.

Acalypha triumphans L.Linden & Rodigas

Ricinocarpus wilkesianus (Müll.Arg.) Kuntze

Common Name:

Acalypha wilkesiana
One of the many variegated forms of this plant
Photograph by: Frank Vincentz
Creative Commons License
Acalypha wilkesiana Acalypha wilkesiana Acalypha wilkesiana Acalypha wilkesiana Acalypha wilkesiana

General Information

Acalypha wilkesiana is an erect or spreading, evergreen, often suckering shrub that can grow 2 - 4 metres tall, occasionally to 6 metres[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
350
Title
National Tropical Botanical Garden
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ntbg.org/plants/choose_a_plant.php
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
General information on almost 400 species, with descriptions, habitats and some uses.
,
352
Title
KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone.
,
481
Title
Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
World Health Organisation
Year
2009
ISBN
978-92-9061-249-0
Description
Traditional medicinal uses of 126 species from Papua New Guinea, including information on modern research into the plants.
].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food and as a medicine. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant, being especially valued for its wide range of variegated cultivars, and is also often grown as a hedge.

Known Hazards

The bark has been used as a poison[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Botanical References

1913
Title
Revision and phylogeny of Acalypha (Euphorbiaceae) in Malesia
Publication
Blumea 55, 2010: 21-60
Author
Sagun V.G., Levin G.A. & van Welzen P.C.
Website
http://10.3767/000651910X499141
Publisher
 
Year
2010
ISBN
 
Description
 

Range

Western Pacific - Bismarck Archipelago, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

Habitat

Edges of forests and along the sides of roads; at elevations from 400 - 450 metres[
1913
Title
Revision and phylogeny of Acalypha (Euphorbiaceae) in Malesia
Publication
Blumea 55, 2010: 21-60
Author
Sagun V.G., Levin G.A. & van Welzen P.C.
Website
http://10.3767/000651910X499141
Publisher
 
Year
2010
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Properties

Weed PotentialYes
Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Shrub
Height2.00 m
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details


Prefers a moist, average to moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade[
352
Title
KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone.
]. The best foliage colour is produced when growing in full sun[
352
Title
KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone.
]. Soils must be kept consistently moist, if they dry out then rapid leaf drop usually occurs[
352
Title
KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone.
].
A widely cultivated ornamental plant, it often escapes from cultivation and has become established in disturbed sites in many areas[
350
Title
National Tropical Botanical Garden
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ntbg.org/plants/choose_a_plant.php
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
General information on almost 400 species, with descriptions, habitats and some uses.
].
In areas without a pronounced dry season the plant can flower and produce fruit all year round[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Plant size can be easily controlled by cutting back, or by pinching out the shoot tips to promote bushiness[
352
Title
KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone.
].

Edible Uses

Young shoots, without the flowers, are eaten as a cooked vegetable[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Medicinal

The plant is abortifacient, antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial and antinematodal[
481
Title
Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
World Health Organisation
Year
2009
ISBN
978-92-9061-249-0
Description
Traditional medicinal uses of 126 species from Papua New Guinea, including information on modern research into the plants.
,
1505
Title
Medicinal Plants in Nigeria (website)
Publication
 
Author
Professor Tolu Odugbemi
Website
http://www.medicinalplantsinnigeria.com/uploads/1/7/4/8/17482593/plantsdatabase.xls
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line database, downloadable in .xls format, it has basic information on 628 species of plants
]. The leaves are squeezed into water and the resulting juice is drunk as a treatment for diarrhoea and dysentery[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
481
Title
Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
World Health Organisation
Year
2009
ISBN
978-92-9061-249-0
Description
Traditional medicinal uses of 126 species from Papua New Guinea, including information on modern research into the plants.
]. The juice of fresh leaves is drunk as a treatment for laryngitis[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
481
Title
Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
World Health Organisation
Year
2009
ISBN
978-92-9061-249-0
Description
Traditional medicinal uses of 126 species from Papua New Guinea, including information on modern research into the plants.
]. They are chewed on as a first-aid treatment for a ruptured appendix[
481
Title
Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
World Health Organisation
Year
2009
ISBN
978-92-9061-249-0
Description
Traditional medicinal uses of 126 species from Papua New Guinea, including information on modern research into the plants.
]. The fresh shoots are squeezed into water and the solution drunk to regulate menstruation and as an abortifacient[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
481
Title
Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
World Health Organisation
Year
2009
ISBN
978-92-9061-249-0
Description
Traditional medicinal uses of 126 species from Papua New Guinea, including information on modern research into the plants.
]. (Presumably this last treatment is a much stronger juice than that used for diarrhoea[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].)
Applied externally, the leaves and young shoots are used to treat skin rashes[
1505
Title
Medicinal Plants in Nigeria (website)
Publication
 
Author
Professor Tolu Odugbemi
Website
http://www.medicinalplantsinnigeria.com/uploads/1/7/4/8/17482593/plantsdatabase.xls
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line database, downloadable in .xls format, it has basic information on 628 species of plants
]. The leaves are boiled in water and used as a massage for patients with fevers[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
481
Title
Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
World Health Organisation
Year
2009
ISBN
978-92-9061-249-0
Description
Traditional medicinal uses of 126 species from Papua New Guinea, including information on modern research into the plants.
]. The fresh, leafy branches are applied externally in order to induce perspiration, apparently for their rubefacient effect[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The fresh young leaves, combined with the leaves of Ocimum basilicum, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and Euodia hortensis, are placed in a bowl of hot water and the vapour released is breathed in to bring relief from pneumonia, malaria, pain and fever[
481
Title
Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
World Health Organisation
Year
2009
ISBN
978-92-9061-249-0
Description
Traditional medicinal uses of 126 species from Papua New Guinea, including information on modern research into the plants.
].

An infusion of the leaves and bark is drunk as a treatment for pleurisy[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Agroforestry Uses:

Plants respond very well to cutting back and can be grown as dense ornamental hedges[
490
Title
Flora Vitiensis Nova
Publication
 
Author
Smith. A.C.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden; Hawaii
Year
1979
ISBN
 
Description
A comprehensive flora of Fiji, often showing plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Cuttings of young shoots[
352
Title
KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone.
]. Rooting takes place within 4 weeks at 22°c[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-03. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Acalypha+wilkesiana>

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