Welcome to ACALYPHA project !

 

Acalypha is one of the Big Plant Genera of flowering plants, with over 500 species. It includes several species of economic importance, and there is also numerous evidence of the potential pharmacological in many species, standing out for their anti-bacterial, antifungal, or anticancer activity, and remedy for insect and reptile bites.

 

We have dedicated the last two decades to the study Acalypha, mainly of the South American species. As a result, various monograph, national floristic treatments, synopsis, and checklists have been published, and up to 40 new species have been discovered. Currently, we are developing an ambitious work-plan to study genus Acalypha around the world whose first step is the in-depth study of African species.

 

This website aims to provide comprehensive, relevant, updated, and scientifically validated information on the taxonomy, phylogeny, conservation, and biogeography of Acalypha. It includes an online information system from which all available databases can be readily accessed, so that any information on biological diversity could be incorporated to global networks (GBIF, etc.).Now, you can find nomenclatural information on all the published names of Acalypha and related genera (c.1,700 names), c. 40,000 herbarium specimen records, links to c. 20,000 photographs and drawings, and more than 1,500 bibliographic references.

 

We are always looking for new collaborations, and invite the scientific community, as well as any student or graduate who may be interested, to get in touch if you think we may be able to help with any ideas or questions. Help us to increase the knowledge on this large and neglected group of tropical plants, where many species still wait to be discovered.


José María Cardiel, Iris Montero, Elena Dorda, Pablo Muñoz & Manuel Pardo de Santayana
Dpto. de Biología (Unidad de Botánica), Facultad de Ciencias.

Universidad Autónoma de Madrid - 28049 Madrid. España.

Web development: Marta Rubio Alfayate & Alfonso Marcos Vidal de la O