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Acalypha amentacea Roxb. ssp. wilkesiana (Muell.-Arg.) Fosb.

Synonym                    : Acalypha wilkesiana Muell.-Arg. in DC.

Family                        : Euphorbiaceae

Local Names              : Beefsteak Plant, Fire Dragon Acalypha 

Flowering and fruiting period: October – May

Distribution: Native of Polynesia, widely cultivated as an ornamental

Habitat: Grown as ornamental plant

IUCN status: Data deficient

Endemic: No

Uses: Ornamental, Leaves are traditionally used to treat throat infections, diarrhoea, dysentery and fever.

Key Characters: Monoecious, compact shrub; branchlets tomentose, puberulous later. Leaves alternate, elliptic to ovate, base cuneate, margin crenate-serrate, bronzy-green-mottled with shades of red and purple; petiole to 12 cm. Staminate spikes axillary, pendulous, reddish, many-flowered. Flowers in the axils of minute bracts. Perianth 4-lobed, axillary. Stamens 8-16. Pistillate spikes erect, reddish, to 12-flowered. Flowers in the axils of foliaceous; lobes ovate-lanceolate. Ovary 3-lobed, 3-celled, with 1 ovule per cell, on axile placentae.