Changes

Monoecious shrub or small tree up to 5(–12) m tall; bark surface silver-grey. Leaves arranged spirally, simple; stipules linear-lanceolate, 3–4 mm long, pointed, persistent; petiole 0.5–5 cm long, slender; blade elliptical-ovate to rhombic-ovate, 1–9 cm × 0.5–5.5 cm, base cuneate to slightly truncate, apex obtuse or acuminate, margins toothed, short-hairy while young, 3(–5)-veined from the base and with 2–4 pairs of lateral veins. Inflorescence an axillary spike up to 3.5 cm long, with male flowers and usually 1 female flower near base. Flowers unisexual, without petals; male flowers with pedicel c. 1 mm long, calyx 4-lobed, stamens 8, anthers white; female flowers sessile, subtended by large spathe-like bract 0.5 cm × 1 cm, calyx small, 3-lobed, ovary superior, 3-lobed to nearly globose, c. 0.5 mm in diameter, hairy, styles 3, 3–5 mm long, fused at base. Fruit a 3-lobed capsule 2–3 mm in diameter, with silky hairs, 3-seeded. Seeds globose, c. 1.5 mm in diameter, smooth, grey-brown.

== Other botanical information ==

''Acalypha'' is a large genus comprising about 460 species, occurring mainly in the tropics but extending to warm temperate areas. Tropical Africa and Asia have about 65 and 25 species, respectively, tropical America almost 400. In ''Acalypha glabrata'' 2 varieties have been distinguished based on degree of hairiness.