Definition: The word 'Acalypha' refers to a specific type of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae, which is part of the family Apiaceae.
In botanical terms:
- Acalypha is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apocynaceae.
- The name 'Acalypha' means "acarya" or "butterfly", as these plants are often associated with flowers resembling butterflies, especially those containing nectar and pollen.
Here are some more details:
- Acalypha is a genus of flowering plants native to Southeast Asia. It has around 104 species in the family Apocynaceae, which are also known as butterfly flowers.
- Some of the common species of Acalypha include 'Acalypha spicata', 'Acalypha lutea' (also known as 'Bamboo Rose'), 'Acalypha sylvatica' (also known as 'Sylph Iris'), and 'Acalypha aureum'.
- These flowers are often called "butterfly flowers" due to their shape, which resembles the appearance of a butterfly's wings.
- The specific name 'spicata', 'lutea', 'sylvatica' or 'aureum' comes from the Latin word for "spice," "lutea" means "beautiful" in Greek, and "sylvatica" is from Latin for "sword", all of which are related to a particular type of flower known as butterfly flowers.
In summary, Acalypha is a family of flowering plants that belong to the Apocynaceae genus, including butterflies (Aceres), commonly known as 'Bamboo Rose,' and others like 'Sylph Iris' and 'Acerum aureum'. The specific name 'spicata', 'lutea', 'sylvatica', or 'aureum' all refer to the shape of these flowers.
Acalypha