Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.141291
Element CodePDEUP01073
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderEuphorbiales
FamilyEuphorbiaceae
GenusAcalypha
SynonymsAcalypha gracilens var. gracilens
Other Common NamesSlender Copperleaf (EN) slender threeseed mercury (EN)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Taxonomic CommentsThis is the record for Acalypha gracilens in the narrow sense as treated in Kartesz (1999), not including A. g. var. monococca, (A. monococca).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2023-09-18
Change Date2000-10-22
Edition Date2023-09-18
Edition AuthorsNordman, C. (2023).
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsAcalypha gracilens occurs in the eastern United States, from Massachusetts to Illinois, southeastern Kansas, central Texas and Florida. There are more than 600 occurrences, which are threatened by sand pit mining, road construction and maintenance, succession, trampling, housing development, and other threats in some places, though these threats are likely low.
Range Extent CommentsAcalypha gracilens occurs in the eastern United States, from Massachusetts to Illinois, southeastern Kansas, central Texas and Florida. It is considered to be introduced or adventive in some of the northern part of its range, and exotic in Ontario, Canada. Range extent was estimated to be 3 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1992 and 2023 (Flora of North America Editorial Committee 2016, GBIF 2023, iNaturalist 2023).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records and photo-based observations documented between 1992 and 2023, it is estimated that there are more than 600 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2023, iNaturalist 2023).
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, Acalypha gracilens is threatened by sand pit mining, road construction and maintenance, succession, trampling, housing development, and other threats in some places (NatureServe 2023). Threat impacts are likely to be low.