''Acalypha monococca'', commonly called slender threeseed mercury, is a species of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

in the spurge family ( Euphorbiaceae). It is native to North America, where it is found in the South Central and

Midwestern The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of the United States. I ...

regions of the United States, primarily west of the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it f ...

. Its natural habitat is in dry, sunny, sandy or rocky areas, in prairies, barrens, or woodlands. ''Acalypha monococca'' in an erect annual, growing to around 40 cm tall. Its flowers are produced from summer to fall. It is similar to '' Acalypha gracilens'', which occupies a generally more easterly range from ''Acalypha monococca''. Characteristic features for distinguishing ''Acalypha monococca'' include its single-seeded fruits, narrower leaves, smaller stature.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15288308 monococca Flora of the North-Central United States Flora of the South-Central United States Flora of the Southeastern United States