Botany:
Small shrub growing to a height of 1-3meters. Leaves are alternate, petioled 2-11 cm long, broad-ovate, bright green atop, pale green underneath, with crenulate-serrate margins. Inflorescence is axillary, solitary, in long pendant spikes, up to 15-40 cm long. Flowers are small and bright red.

Distribution
Popular garden cultivation for its decorative red catkins.

Parts utilized
Bark, flower, leaves, root
Propagated by stem cuttings.

Properties and constituents
Diuretic.
Emollient, laxative.
Expectorant.
Studies of leaf extracts isolated gallic aicd, corilagin and geranin responsible for antimicrobial activity.
Aequous extract of Acalypha hispida leaves suggest trypanocidal effect.
Studies yielded geraniin and dehydroellagitannins which suggest diverse biological properties including anti-ulcer and anti-tumor effects, antibacterial activity against helicobacter pylori and antifungal activity.

Uses
Folkloric
Not known in the Philippines for medicinal applications.
Elsewhere, used for pulmonary problems, leprosy, kidney disease, as diuretic
In indonesia, a root and flower decoction is used for hemoptysis. Leaf poultice used for leprosy.
In Malaya, decoction of leaves and flowers taken internally as laxative and diuretic for gonorrhea.
Bark used as expectorant; for asthma.

Availability
Ornamental cultivation.