Acalypha integrifolia Willd.

Muñoz, Iris Montero, Levin, Geoffrey A. & Cardiel, José María, 2023, Monograph of Acalypha L. (Euphorbiaceae) of the Western Indian Ocean Region, with the description of a new species from Mayotte, Adansonia (3) 45 (26), pp. 395-496 : 445-448

22. Acalypha integrifolia Willd.

Species Plantarum 4 (1): 530 ( Willdenow 1805). — Type: Mauri - tius. s.l., s.d., Anonymous, s.n. (lecto-, designated by Coode [1978: 39]: B[B-W17834-020]).

Tragia colorata Poir., Encyclopédie méthodique. Botanique 7: 725 ( Poiret 1806). — Acalypha colorata (Poir.) Spreng. , Systema vegetabilium 3: 879 ( Sprengel 1826). — Acalypha commersoniana var. obtusifolia f. colorata (Poir) . Müll.Arg., Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis 15 (2): 850 ( Müller Argoviensis 1866). — Acalypha integrifolia var. colorata (Poir.) Pax & K.Hoffm., Das Pflanzenreich (Engler) 147, 16 (Heft 85): 106 ( Pax & Hoffmann 1924). — Type: Mauritius. “Cette plante croît dans les indes orientales & à l’Île de France”, s.l. s.d., P. Commerson s.n. (holo-, P-LAM[P00382140]).

Acalypha reticulata var. longifolia Müll.Arg. , Linnaea 34: 32 ( Müller Argoviensis 1865). — Acalypha integrifolia var. longifolia (Müll.Arg.) Coode, Kew Bulletin 34: 41 ( Coode 1979). — Type: Mauritius. s.l., s.d., L. Bouton s.n. (holo-, GDC[G00324522]).

Acalypha reticulata var. longifolia f. aberrans Müll.Arg. , Linnaea 34: 32 ( Müller Argoviensis 1865). — Type: Mauritius. “In sylvis Mauritii”, 1833, W. Bojer s.n. (holo-, GDC[G00324521]).

Acalypha commersoniana Baill. ex Müll.Arg. , Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis 15 (2): 849 ( Müller Argoviensis 1866). — Acalypha commersoniana var. brevifolia Baill. ex Müll. Arg. , Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis 15 (2): 850 ( Müller Argoviensis 1866). — Type: Mauritius. “Cum var. praecedentibus”, s.d., Anonymous, s.n. (Hb. Willd. fol. 17834 page 1) (lecto-, designated by Montero Muñoz et al. [2018a: 100]: B[BW17834-010]). — Former syntypes: Mauritius. s.l., s.d., L. Bouton s.n. GDC[G00324543].

Acalypha commersoniana var. acutifolia Müll.Arg. , Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis 15 (2): 849 ( Müller Argoviensis 1866). — Acalypha commersoniana var. acutifolia f. purpurea Müll.Arg. , Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis 15 (2): 849 ( Müller Argoviensis 1866). — Type: Mauritius. s.l., s.d., F. W. Sieber 181 pr. p. (lecto-, designated by Montero Muñoz et al. [2018a: 100]: GDC[G00324550]). — Former syntype: Mauritius. s.l., s.d., L. Bouton s.n. GDC[G00324559].

Acalypha commersoniana var. acutifolia f. purpureo-marginata Müll. Arg., Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis 15 (2): 849 ( Müller Argoviensis 1866). — Type: Mauritius. s.l., s.d., Hb. Boiss. s.n. (holo-, GDC[G00324557]; iso-, K[K000431097]).

Acalypha commersoniana var. acutifolia f. concolor Müll.Arg. , Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis 15 (2): 849 ( Müller Argoviensis 1866). — Acalypha integrifolia var. concolor (Müll.Arg.) Pax & K.Hoffm., Das Pflanzenreich (Engler) 147, 16 (Heft 85): 106 ( Pax & Hoffmann 1924). — Type: Mauritius. “Cum form. praecedentibus”, s.d., J. B. G. M. Bory s.n. (lecto-, designated by Montero Muñoz et al. [2018a: 100]: GDC[G00324554]). — Former syntype: Mauritius. s.l., s.d., F.W. Sieber 182 GDC[G00324556].

Acalypha commersoniana var. longifolia Müll.Arg. , Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis 15 (2): 850 ( Müller Argoviensis 1866). — Type: Mauritius. s.l., s.d., L. Bouton s.n. (lecto-, designated by Montero Muñoz et al. [2018a: 101]: GDC[G00324553]; isolecto-, GDC[G00324551, G00324552], K[K000431101]).

Acalypha commersoniana var. parvifolia Baill. ex Müll.Arg. , Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis 15 (2): 850 ( Müller Argoviensis 1866). — Acalypha integrifolia var. parvifolia (Baill. ex Müll.Arg.) Pax & K.Hoffm., Das Pflanzenreich (Engler) 147, 16 (Heft 85): 106 ( Pax & Hoffmann 1924). — Type: Mauritius. “Cum var. praecedentibus”, s.d., F. W. Sieber 369 pr.p. (holo-, GDC[G00324538]).

Acalypha commersoniana var. obtusifolia Müll.Arg. , Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis 15 (2): 850 ( Müller Argoviensis 1866). — Acalypha commersoniana var. obtusifolia f. discolor Müll. Arg., Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis 15 (2): 850 ( Müller Argoviensis 1866). — Type: Mauritius. “Cum praecedentibus”, s.d., F. W. Sieber 181 pr. p. (holo-, GDC[G00324558]).

Acalypha commersoniana var. obtusifolia f. unicolor Müll.Arg. , Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis 15 (2): 850 ( Müller Argoviensis 1866). — Type: Mauritius. s.l., s.d., F.W. Sieber 178 (holo-, GDC[G00324539]; iso-, P[P04779345, P04780015].

Acalypha discolor Bojer, Hortus Mauritianus 286 ( Bojer 1837) nom. nud.

Tragia macrophylla Wall., A Numerical List of dried specimens of plants in the East India Company’s Museum n. 7796 ( Wallich 1847) nom. nud.

Tragia lobata Wall., A Numerical List of dried specimens of plants in the East India Company’s Museum n. 7796 ( Wallich 1847) nom nud.

Acalypha commersoniana Baill. , Adansonia, recueil d’observations botaniques 1: 267 ( Baillon 1861) nom. nud.

Acalypha commersoniana var. concolor Baill. , Adansonia, recueil d’observations botaniques 1: 267 ( Baillon 1861) nom. nud.

Acalypha commersoniana var. discolor Baill. , Adansonia, recueil d’observations botaniques 1: 267 ( Baillon 1861) nom. nud.

Acalypha commersoniana var. parvifolia Baill. , Adansonia, recueil d’observations botaniques 1: 267 ( Baillon 1861) nom. nud.

Caturus sessilis Thouars ex Baill. , Adansonia, recueil d’observations botaniques 1: 267 ( Baillon 1861) nom. nud.

Tragia fruticosa Commers. ex Baill. , Adansonia, recueil d’observations botaniques 1: 267 ( Baillon 1861) nom. nud.

Tragia obtusata Vahl. ex Baill. , Adansonia, recueil d’observations botaniques 1: 267 ( Baillon 1861) nom. nud.

ICONOGRAPHY. — Figs 38 ; 46B ; 54A, B.

ETYMOLOGY. — The epithet refers to the entire leaf margins.

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT. — Endemic to Mascarene Islands ( Mauritius and La Réunion). In Mauritius, in lowland evergreen moist forest, dry forest, and grasslands. In La Réunion in lowland evergreen moist forest. Altitudinal range in Mauritius (150-) 200- 700 m and in La Réunion (150-) 380-1300 m ( Fig. 39 ).

PRELIMINARY CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT. — Acalypha integrifolia is known from Mauritius and La Réunion. Its EOO is estimated to be 9 004.818 km2 and its AOO 80.000 km 2, which is less than the 500 km 2 threshold of the B2 subcriterion of the Endangered category. For the status of forests on Mauritius forests, see the assessment of A. crateriana comb. nov., for those on La Réunion, see the assessment of A. filiformis . Ongoing habitat loss will cause continued decline of its EOO and AOO. Acalypha integrifolia is assessed as Near Threatened (NT). It meets the EOO and AOO values needed for a threatened category, but the number of locations is too high to meet the conditions required for a listing under the Endangered category.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 152 collections. Mauritius: Allan, D. s.n. (K); Anonymous s.n. (B[B-W17834-020]); Anonymous s.n. (B[BW17834-010]); Anonymous s.n. (G[G00324520]); Anonymous s.n. (G[G00324541]); Anonymous s.n. (G[G00324542]); Anonymous s.n. (G[G00324547]); Anonymous s.n. (B[B-W17834-020]); Anonymous s.n. (P[P04779337]); Anonymous s.n. (P[P04779383]); Anonymous s.n. (P[P04779384]); Anonymous s.n. (P[P04779399]); Ayres, P.B. s.n. (P[P04779484]); Barlay, C. 2804 (K); Bélanger,M.s.n. (G); Bernardi,L. 14719 (C, G, K, L[L0438912], MO[MO-2965780], P[P04779456]), 14754 (C, G, K, MO[MO-2452044], P[P04779459]), 14866 (C, G, K, P[P04779471]), 14868 (C, K, MO[MO-2452043], P[P04779461]); Blackburn, J. s.n. (P[P04779482]); Boivin, L.H. 1558 (P[P04779408]), s.n. (P[P04779323]) s.n. (P[P04779410]), s.n. (P[P04779411]), s.n. (P[P04779455])), s.n. (P[P04779458]); Bojer, W. s.n. (G[G00324521]), s.n. (P[P04779478]), s.n. (P[P04779479]); Bory de Saint-Vincent, J.B.G. s.n. (G[G00324531]), s.n. (G[G00324554]); Bouton, L. 24 (P[P04779437]), s.n. (G[G00324522]), s.n. (G[G00324543]), s.n. (G[G00324545]), s.n. (G[G00324548]), s.n. (G[G00324549]), s.n. (G[G00324551, G00324552, G00324553], K[K000431101]), s.n. (G[G00324555]), s.n. (G[G00324559]); Brown, Ab. s.n. (P[P04779418]); Commerson, P. 655 (L[L0160752], P[P04779325]), 656 (L[L0160754], P[P04779339]), s.n. (P[P00382140]), s.n. (P[P04779327]), s.n. (P[P04779457]), s.n. (P[P04779466]), s.n. (P[P04779467]); Coode, M.J.E. 4836 (K, P[P04779409]), 4843 (K, P[P04779407]), 4845 (P[P04779406]), 4846 (K); Desvaux, A.N. 184 (P[P04779412]); D’Urville, D. s.n. (P[P04779385]), s.n. (P[P04779386]), s.n. (P[P04779387]), s.n. (P[P04779388]), s.n. (P[P04779389]), s.n. (P[P04779390]); Fosberg, F.R. 52683 ( US [US01287368]), 52685 (K, MO[MO-2965776], US[US01287369]); Guého, J. 15166 (P[P04779336]); Hb. Boiss. s.n. (G[G00324557], K[K000431097]); Herb.de Tristan s.n. (P[P04786006]); Herb.Parker s.n. (P[P04779419]); Hooker, W.J. s.n. ( BR [BR0000014628047]); Hugenie, M? s.n. (G); Jussieu, A. s.n. (P[P04779404]); Lahaie 28 (P[P04779392]); Lorence, D. 133 ( MO [MO-2965778]), 134 ( MO [MO-2965777]), 1599 ( MO [MO-2965779]), 1838 (G, MO[MO-2452047], P[P04779462]), 1960 (K, MO[MO-2452049], P[P04779448]), 4525 ( MO [MO-2452050]); Martin 589 (G); Néraud s.n. (G); Perrotet, M. s.n. (P[P04779340]), s.n. (P[P05481894]); Pierre, L. 5338 (P[P04779483]); Richard, M. 178 (P[P04779344]), s.n. (P[P04779405]), s.n. (P[P04779441]); Schleiden, M.J. s.n. (P[P04779481]); Sieber, F.W. 65 (G), 66 (G), 178 (G[G00324539, G00324540], L[L0241390, L0241391, L0241392], P[P04780015, P04779345]), 181 ( BR [BR0000014628054], G[G00324550, G00324558], L[L0241755, L0241756, L0241757, L0241758], P[P04779364, P04779396, P04779398]), 182 (G[G00324556], L[L0160809, L0160810], P[P04779391, P04779400, P04779401]), 182 pr. p. (G[G00324546]), 369 (G[G00324538]), 2042 (P[P04779397]); Splitgerber, F.L. s.n. (L[L0241754]); Thonin s.n. (G); Vesco, M. s.n. (P[P04779324]), s.n. (P[P04779326]), s.n. (P[P04779334]), s.n. (P[P04779393]), s.n. (P[P04779394]), s.n. (P[P04779468]), s.n. (P[P04779470]).

La Réunion. Anonymous 492 (P[P04779378]); Anonymous s.n. (G[G00324544]); Badré, F. 794 ( BR [BR0000014628078], K, P[P04779445, P04779447]); Balfour, I.B. s.n. (K); Bernier, M. M21 (P[P04779416]); Boivin, L.H. 655 (G), 1391 (P[P04779469, P04779414, P04779415]); Bosser, M.J. 21468 (K, P[P04779449, P04779464]), 22576 (P[P04779453]); Bouton, L. s.n. (P[P04779480]); Breón, M. s.n. (P[P04779827]); Cadet, Th. 647 (K), 742 (K, P[P04779452]), 3917 (K, P[P04779460]), 4474 (K); Commerson, P. s.n. ( BR [BR0000021450174]), s.n. (P[P04779357]); Coode, M.J.E. 5221 (K); d’Alleizette, Ch. 902 (L[L0241753]); Delessert, A. s.n. (G); Desvaux, A.N. 181 (P[P04779372]), 186 (P[P04779413]), s.n. (P[P04779374]); du Petit-Thouars, L.M.A. s.n. (P[P04779395]), s.n. (P[P04779402]), s.n. (P[P04779403]), s.n. (P[P04779472]); Frappier, M. 2 ( GH, P[P04779477]), 12 (P[P04779474]), s.n. (P[P04779475]), s.n. (P[P04779476]); Friedmann, F. 1007 ( BR [BR0000014628061], G, P[P04779446, P04779463]), 1026 (P[P04779443]), 1027 (P[P04779444]), 1947 (K, P[P04779442]); Giraudy, H.18107 (P[P04780018]); Léman, D.S. s.n. (P[P04779341]), s.n. (P[P04779373] pr.p.); Monin, M. s.n. (P[P04779365]); Richard, M. 192 (P[P04779376]), 193 (P[P04779450]), 201 (P[P04779379, P04779381, P04779436, P04779440]), 202 (P[P04779382, P04779439]), 490 (P[P04779465]), 658 (L[L0242527]), s.n. (P[P04779367]), s.n. (P[P04779377]), s.n. (P[P04779380]), s.n. (P[P04779438]), s.n. (P[P04779579] pr.p.), s.n. (P[P05604455] pr.p.); Rivals, P. s.n. (P[P04779451]).

REFERENCES. — Bojer (1837: 286); Baillon (1858: 443) as A. colorata ; Müller Argoviensis (1866: 850); Baker (1877: 315) as A. colorata ; Cordemoy (1895: 342) as A. colorata ; Palacký (1907: 24) as A. commersoniana ; Palacký (1907: 25); Pax & Hoffmann (1924: 105); Coode (1982: 69); Robertson (1989: 200); Govaerts et al. (2000: 69); Montero Muñoz et al. (2018a: 100).

DESCRIPTION Shrubs, leaf persistence unknown, to 2 m tall, monoecious. Branches densely appressed-pubescent, rugose and glabrescent when mature. Axillary buds ovoid, to 1.2 × 0.7 mm, perulate, perules 2, valvate,membranous, brownish,appressed-pubescent. Stipules to 8 mm long, triangular-lanceolate,with reddish midrib and two greenish wings, subglabrous, with some simple, minute, appressed trichomes on midrib. Petioles thick, 0.5-2.2 cm long, indumentum similar to that on young branches, glabrescent. Leaf blades (5-)9-15.5 × (1.5-) 3.5-6.5 cm, usually elliptic-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, sometimes slightly panduriform, chartaceous to coriaceous; base truncate to subcordate; apex rounded, mucronate; margin entire to denticulate, revolute, sometimes reddish or pinkish, teeth, if present, minute, subacute; upper and lower surfaces glabrous; venation prominent on lower surface, sometimes reddish, pinnate, secondary veins 15-18 per side, straight, parallel. Stipels absent. Inflorescences spiciform, male, and solitary female bracts, axillary. Male inflorescences to 9 cm long; subsessile, peduncle to 2 mm long, indumentum similar to that on petioles; flowers glomerate; bracts to 0.7 mm long, triangular-rhombic, appressed-pubescent. Solitary female bracts sessile, enlarging in fruit to 6 × 6.5 mm, suborbicular, becoming coriaceous, glabrous; margin entire; bracteoles absent. Male flowers: pedicel to 0.5 mm long, sparsely hairy; buds to 0.5 mm diameter, sparsely hairy. Female flowers 2-3 per bract, sessile; sepals 3, to 1.5 mm long, ovate-lanceolate, pubescent with simple, appressed trichomes, especially at margin; ovary c. 1 mm diameter, 3-lobed, papillose-hispid, papillae to 1 mm long, ending in a simple trichome to 0.5 mm long, with appressed trichomes, surface appressed-pubescent; styles 3, to 5 mm long, distinct, sparsely hairy with simple, appressed trichomes on rachis, each divided into c. 12 segments. Allomorphic flowers sometimes present, axillary; pedicel filiform, to 19 mm long, glabrous; sepals to 2 mm long, ovate-lanceolate, subglabrous, with some simple appressed trichomes, margin with sessile glands; ovary not seen. Capsules to 4 mm diameter, papillose-hispid, papillae triangular, to 1 mm long, with simple, appressed trichomes, surface appressed-pubescent. Seeds c. 2 mm diameter, subglobose, foveolate.

NOTES

1) Coode (1979, 1982) accepted three subspecies and six varieties within Acalypha integrifolia , but we find the varieties he placed within subsp. integrifolia overlap too much to accept them as distinct taxa. See notes for A. marginata for our treatment of what Coode treated within A. integrifolia subsp. marginata and subsp. panduriformis ; 2) Boivin mixes two species under collection Boivin 1391 ( A. filiformis [P04779576, P05604483] and A. integrifolia [P04779414,P04779415,P04779417, P04779329, P04779469]); and 3) the following specimens P00324571, P00324572, P00324573 and P00324574 are labeled as being from Madagascar (without a specific locality), but the labels are not original and A.filiformis is endemic to the Mascarene Islands. The location given for these specimens almost certainly is incorrect.

Figures

FIG. 38. — Acalypha integrifolia Willd.: A, flowering branch with young leaves; B, flowering branch with mature leaves; C, detail of node, stipules, and petiole base; D, mature female bract; E, ovary and styles; F, calyx of the female flower; G, capsule; H, seed. Based on P. commerson s.n. (A, D-G), W. Bojer s.n. (B), F. R. Fosberg 52683 (C), L. Bernardi 14866-bis (H). Illustration by Laura González Hernández. Scale bars: A, B, 1 cm; C, 2 mm; D-H, 1 mm.

FIG. 46. — Mature female bracts: A, Acalypha indica L. (Sagun et al., 2010, Sagun & Risna SR58); B, A. integrifolia Willd. (P. Commerson 655); C, A. isaloensis I.Montero & Cardiel (J.-N. Labat 2119); D, A. lamiana (Leandri) I.Montero & Cardiel (H. J. Lam & A. Meeuse 6727); E, A. lanceolata Willd. var. glandulosa (Müll.Arg.) Radcl.-Sm. (H. Perrier de la Bâthie 9929); F, A. leandrii I.Montero & Cardiel (J. Leandri 2037); G, A. leonii Baill. (L. Gautier LG4003); H, A. lepidopagensis Leandri (H. Perrier de la Bâthie 9726). Illustration by Iris Montero Muñoz. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIG. 54. — A, B, Acalypha integrifolia Willd. (photo by J. M. Sarrailh); C, D, A. leptomyura Baill. (photo by T. Randrianarivony, T. Randrianarivony 749); E, A. marginata (Poir.) Spreng. (photo by F. Duban); F, A. mayottensis I.Montero & Cardiel (photo by J.-N. Labat, J.-N. Labat 3268); G, H, A. medibracteata Radcl.-Sm. & Govaerts (photo by L. Gillespie, L. Gillespie 10828).

FIG. 39. — Distribution map of Acalypha integrifolia Willd.in the Mascarene Islands.