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Acalypha wilkesiana 'Mosaica'
| Family Name: | Euphorbiaceae |
| Common Name: | Fire Fiji Plant, Beef Steak Plant, Fire Dragon, 乳叶紅桑 |
This Fire Fiji Plant gives a tropical feel to any garden with its ornamental large leaves of green mottled with light to deep red. This plant is also ideal as indoor house plant under slight partial shade.
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Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Shrubby |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | East Indies & the Pacific |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Erect or spreading shrub, up to 2 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Large and broad leaves with toothed edges, measuring about 10 - 20 cm long and 15 - 20 cm wide. |
| Stems | Erect stem with many branches. |
| Flowers | Flowers are borne on spikes, usually measuring about 10 - 20 cm long. |
| Fruit | Globose in shape. |
| Etymology | Genus Acalypha means unpleasant to touch. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Medicinal: Leaves are traditionally used to treat throat infections, diarrhoea, dysentery and fever. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | This plant is suitable in parks and gardens for its large leaves of green mottled with light to deep red under full sun, but can tolerate slight partial shade. |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Flowers |
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens, General |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water, Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Purple, Red |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Glossy / Shiny, Smooth |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Orange, Red, Green - Light Green |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Crenate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Rounded / Obtuse, Cordate |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Unisexual Flowers , Monoecious |
| Flower Grouping | Solitary |
|---|
| Flower Location | Axillary |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 297 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 1593 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
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