Photo of Virginia Threeseed Mercury (Acalypha virginica)

Taken on Aug. 22, 2014

This plant was growing as a weed or wild plant in a mostly-native plant garden. I found it interesting that I found it here, whereas it was absent (or at least I did not find any in my extensive time spent there) in the nearby wild areas in the George Perley Bird Sanctuary and Ralph Morgan Park.

Location

Ecoregion

Photographer & Copyright

CC BY-SA 4.0

Inclusion in Plant ID / Comparison Guides

This photo is featured in 1 plant ID/comparison guide:

collage of Rhomboid Mercury and Virginia Threeseed Mercury

Rhomboid Mercury (Acalypha rhomboidea) vs. Virginia Threeseed Mercury (Acalypha virginica)

Updated November 15th, 2019

These two plants are easily told apart by their flower bracts. Some individuals are easily distinguished by leaf shape and petiole length, although high variability of these traits makes them less reliable. New growth has shorter petioles, and growing conditions can alter leaf shape considerably.

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