Plant
Acalypha virginica
Acalypha virginicaAlso known as Virginia Threeseed Mercury, Virginia Copperleaf, Three-Seeded Mercury
Virginia threeseed mercury flourishes in disturbed ground, field margins, and sunny woodland clearings throughout eastern North America. Its tiny greenish flowers bloom inside delicate, hand-shaped bracts nestled directly at the bases of alternate, lance-shaped leaves. As summer turns to autumn, the foliage transforms into a striking coppery-red tint before dispersing its three-parted seed capsules.
NativeWeedyAutumn Color
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyAutotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- Herbivorous Insects
- Mice
- Game Birds
ThreatsNone significant; thrives in human-altered landscapes
HabitatsOpen woodlands, riverbanks, fields, and disturbed soil
Life spanAnnual
Classification
- FamilyEuphorbiaceae
- SpeciesAcalypha virginica
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Spotting Bracts: Inspect the leaf bases with a hand lens to see the fringed bracts surrounding the flowers.
- Seasonal Color: Watch for its leaves turning a distinctive coppery-red in early autumn along trail edges.
Close Relative (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Family Member (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
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