acalephan

[ACALEPH.] Any species of the cla Acalephæ (q. v.). a new genus of Acalephan."-Owen: Lect. on Invert. Anim., p. 111. IMG:content-0067.png:[blocks in formation] a-căl-yph-a, 8. [Gr. ἀκαληφ ” ( akalēphe ) = a nettle.] Three-sided Mercury: a genus of plants belonging to the order Euphorbiaceæ, or Spurge-worts. The species, which are found in the warmer parts of the world, especially in South America, are stinging nettle-like plants of no beauty. More than 100 are known. A. rubra is the extinct string wood of St. Helena; A. Indica , or Cupameni , an Indian plant, has leaves a decoction of which are laxative, and a root which, when bruised in hot water, has cathartic properties. The word was originally acaleph a , but it appears to have been altered to acalypha , to distinguish it from acaleph a = a cla of radiated animals. (ACALEPΗΣ] ăc-a-lyph'-e-m. [ACALYPHA.] Bot. A section, tribe, or family of the order Euphorbiaceæ, or Spurge-worts.