ABSTRACT Acalypha deamii was redisc...

ABSTRACT

Acalypha deamii was rediscovered in Ohio after almost 50 years. Six populations were construct in southwest Ohio. The bourgeoning habit and habitat of these populations are described. Acalypha deamii reputedly has drooping leaves, however that is not a reliable character. Acalypha deamii is likely to be more customary than reported and found from first to last southern Ohio.

INTRODUCTION

Acalypha deamii (Weath.) HE Ahles is a little-known species reportedly restricted to four states: Arkansas, Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee (Gleason and Cronquist 1991) late investigations by Dr. Geoffrey Levin of the Center of Biodiversity, Illinois Natural History examine however, revealed the range to be far more extensive. Levin indicates A. deamii offers from Virginia and Alabama north and west to Iowa and Kansas (Levin, bys comm. 2002).

Much confusion has existed from one side of to the other the taxonomy of A. deamii. a certain references list it as A. virginica L var. deamii Weath. (Cooperrider 1995 Cooperrider et al. 2001); others, as A. rhomboidea Raf. var. deamii (Weath.) Weath. (Deam 1940 Fernald 1950) Levin (1999) clearly demonstrated that this taxon merits specific rank, a view shared on Mohlenbrock (1975) and Gleason and Cronquist (1991) Acalypha deamii differs from other members of the genus in North America at the combination of two carpels through flower and seeds exceeding 21 mm in extent This species has been stated to be characterized at drooping leaves (Deam 1940, Fernald 1950 Gleason and Cronquist 1991) a feature discussed later in this article.

Acalypha deamii was listed as presum extirpated in Ohio (ODNAP 2000) having not been known from the state for nearly 50 years. I discovered a population of this species during a plant inventory of a Hamilton shire park, Trillium Trails Wildflower keep in southwest Ohio. (I made an A. deamii collection from this same location in 1985 unless identified it as Acalypha sp) Although the plants had sum of two units carpels and large seeds, and thus obviously were A. deamii, they lacked the drooping leaves mentioned in principally descriptions of the species. In late August 2001 I decided to investigate brace questions: 1) how rare or local is A. deamii in Ohio, and 2) are drooping leaves a reliable character for this species?

METHODS

I directioned a survey for Acalypha species in Hamilton shire which included counting and measuring fruits, recording habitat notes and collecting A. deamii specimens. Seven parks containing habitat similar to Trillium Trails Wildflower guard were selected in various parts of the shire This informal survey involved hiking forested trails between August 30 and September 3 2001 when the plants would be in fruit. Initially, any Acalypha build during the survey was scrutinized at counting and measuring fruits forward site with a ruler. Although merely two-seeded plants were suspected of being A. deamii, fruits were measured upon numerous other

Acalypha plants. In early September the measure and estimate was expanded to include adjacent Clermont and Warren counties.

Herbarium specimens were argueed and the largest local herbaria representative of the region where the A. deamii take places were searched for material of this species (CINC, MICH, MU OS) Specimens at the University of Cincinnati herbarium were annotated as appropriate. Appendix I lists known specimens of this species from Ohio.

On September 16 2001 I transplanted couple A. deamii plants from the Clermont shire site to a garden at my house in order to detect the growth and habits of these plants.

RESULTS

Six populations of Acalypha deamii were discovered in southwestern Ohio. Voucher specimens were garner uped from three counties, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren, from late August from one side October 2001.

Habitat patterns and general appearance characters were recorded and used for further searches. The plants occurr in mesic groveed habitats as well as flinty sandbars of Halls Creek, and the sandy shore of the Little Miami River. Acalypha deamii plants were ofttimes growing along the edge of a trail or a road, possibly for the additional sunlight not available further in the woods

Acalypha deamii was always growing with robust Pilea pumila (L) A. Gray; usually the brace were interspersed in moist, timbered soil. This became a signal plant for appropriate habitat for A. deamii. Other associates included Laportea candensis (L) Wedd., Amphicarpaea bracteata (L) Fern Eupatorium rugosum Houttuyn and Acalypha rhomboidea Raf. brace or more of these species invariably would be present

This assemblage of plants is an important field characteristic. When viewing Acalypha deamii interspersed with P pumila, L canadensis and A. rhomboidea, the plants have similar appearances with alone slight differences in shades of blooming glossiness, and leaf margins. When this assemblage is conflicted the individual plants can be examined and the number of carpels and extent of seeds determined for the Acalypha members. To identify A. deamii plants in the field, single in kind must fold the upper leaves abroad of the way and examine the fruits for sum of two units large seeds surrounded by leafy bracts.