Hophornbeam Copperleaf, Pineland Threeseed Mercury

(Acalypha ostryifolia Riddell)

Euphorbiaceae (Spurge Family)

▲ seedling

▲ young  mature plant

▲ ▼ young plants

▲ young, mature plant showing characteristic bent-down angle of leaves

▲ ▼ flowering plants

▲ closer-view of flowering stem

Hophornbeam Copperleaf:  (not in Weeds of Nebraska, nor in Weeds of the Northeast)

·        summer annual that grows 10-30” tall with branched, upright stems, making a pyramidal shaped plant

·        leaves are alternate, oval to heart-shaped with small teeth along the margins

·        flowers are on upright, ½” wide, 1-6” tall, greenish terminal spikes, with fringed bracts between flowers in spikes

·        stems are covered with fine hairs which may be nettle-like (cause irritation, itching, rashes)

·        does not have milky sap

·        found in cultivated fields, gardens, roadsides, non-crop areas