38. Acalypha infesta Poepp.

Nova Genera ac Species Plantarum quas in Regno Chilensi Peruviano 3: 21 (Poeppig 1841).

≡ Ricinocarpus infestus (Poepp.) Kuntze; = Acalypha infestans Müll.Arg.; = A. infestans var. stenoloba Müll.Arg.; = A. infestans var. rotundifolia Müll.Arg.; = A. forbesii S.Moore.

Voucher specimens

BOLIVIA – La Paz • Buchtien, O. 3246; NY.

COLOMBIA – Cauca • De Benavides, O. 4846; COL, PSO.

ECUADOR – Pichincha • Cerón, C.E. 81371; QAP.

PERU – Lima • Mathews, A. 435; BM, GH, K.

Habit

Herb. Native.

Habitat

Northern Andes: Northern Andean Highlands; Central Andes: Central High Andes, alt. (600‒) 1500‒2800 m.

Distribution

Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

References

Cardiel & Muñoz-Rodríguez (2012), Cardiel et al. (2013b).

Provisional conservation status

LC.

Remarks

In addition to the wild montane specimens, Acalypha infesta appears as probably adventitious near sea level in the city of Lima and surroundings, in Peru. Recently, we are also informed about the presence of A. infesta in the Valparaiso Region, Chile; it is associated with avocado and olive crops (Virginia Irribarra & Robinson Burgos, Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero de la Región de Valparaíso, pers. com.). We confirm the identification through field photos while waiting to have herbarium vouchers. This is the first record of the presence of Acalypha in Chile.