Acalypha, genus Acalypha(noun)

a genus of herbs and shrubs belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae

Acalypha

Acalypha is a plant genus of the family Euphorbiaceae. It is the sole genus of the subtribe Acalyphinae. With 450 to 500 species of shrubs, trees and annuals, the genus is only behind Euphorbia, Croton and Phyllanthus in terms of Malpighiales diversity. The common name is copperleaf, three-seeded mercury or cat's tail. These plants are mostly tropical or subtropical, with a few representatives in temperate zones. The Americas contain two thirds of the known species, distributed from southern United States to Uruguay and northern Argentina. Several species, such as A. ecuadorica, A. eggersii and A. raivavensis are nearly extinct, and the St. Helena Mountain Bush or "stringwood" already is.