Acalypha

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Acalypha (family Euphorbiaceae) A genus of shrubs and small trees in which the flowers are unisexual and apetalous, males having elongate, twisted anther-lobes, and females much-branched stigmas (see CARPEL); some species bear catkins (e.g. the ornamental A. hispida, ‘cat's tail’). A. wilkesiana and others have colourful foliage. There are no close relatives in the family; the resemblance to Urticaceae is only superficial. There are about 430 species, found in the tropics and subtropics.

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