Nordic Journal of Botany Accepted 13-11-2002 Nord. J. Bot. 22(5) 2002 1 NJB-22-37 Two new species of Acalypha (Euphorbiaceae) from Peru José María Cardiel Introduction As a part of the revision of Acalypha L. for Peru, a thorough study was made on the material deposited in several European and American herbaria. The work resulted in the discovery of two new species from Peru. Acalypha has about 450 species which are distributed mainly in tropical and subtropical areas, with some of them to be found in temperate regions. After the revision of species from northern South America (Cardiel 1994, 1995, 1999, 2000), we undertake now the study of species from Peru and Bolivia in order to prepare the appropriate floristic treatments. Our aim, at a longer term, is to revise the genus within the whole neotropical region, and to prepare the Acalypha treatment for Flora neotropica. Acalypha salicina Hutch. ex Cardiel, sp. nov. Type: Peru, Department of Puno, Río Távara, border of river, 400 m, 13º 21´S, 69º 40´W, 20 May 1992. A. Gentry, C. Reynel, R. Ortiz & P. Núñez 76917 (MO! holotype, MA! isotype). Paratypes: Peru, Department of Puno, Prov. Sandia, between Río Azata - Colorado, 1100 m, 13.8º - 21.5º S, 23 Jun 1986. P. Núñez, & C. Muñoz 5263 (MO!); Prov. Carabaya, Inambari–Palmesa, 630 m, 15 May 1964. C. Vargas 15391 (US!); Departamento de Cuzco, Prov. Cardiel, J. M. 2003. Two new species of Acalypha (Euphorbiaceae) from Peru. – Nord. J. Bot. 22: 000-000. Copenhagen. ISSN 0107-055X. Two new species of the genus Acalypha are described and illustrated., A. salicina and A. simplicistyla, based on Peruvian material. Comments on the systematics of related species are included. J. M. Cardiel. Real Jardín Botánico, C.S.I.C. Plaza de Murillo, 2. 28014. Madrid, Spain. E-mail: cardiel@ma-rjb.csic.es. Quispirambis, alrededores de Juansompuente, 560 m, 25 Oct 1965, C. Vargas, 16442 (US!); origin unknown, cultivated in Kew Botanical Garden, 21 Feb 1913[1923], Hutchinson s.n. (K! three sheets). Frutex, foliis 9-21 × 0.5-1.5 cm, lineari–lanceolatis, breviter petiolatis; inflorescentiis unisexualibus, foemineis autem spiciformibus terminalibusque, bracteis praeditis accrescentibus, adpresse pilosis, pilis autem glanduliferis carentibus; capsulis etiam adpresso pilosis . – Fig. 1. Shrub c. 2.5 m high, monoecious; young branches densely appressed–pubescent to sub-velutinous, gla- brescent; edge branches glabrous. Stipules linear- lanceolate, 7-9 mm long, appressed-pubescent, apex aristate. Petiole 5-9 (-16) mm long, with indu- mentum similar to that found on the young branches. Leaf blade linear-lanceolate, (7-) 9-12 (- 15) × 0.5-1.5(-5) cm, membranous; the base cuneate to acute; the apex caudate-acuminate, acumen acute; margin crenate-serrate, teeth subacute; upper surface sparsely puberulous, appressed-pubescent on veins; lower surface with indumentum similar to that found on upper surface, but more dense; venation pinnate, slightly prominent on the lower surface, with 1 or 3 main nerves from base, the secondary veins 10-12 per side, midrib prominent on the upper surface. Stipels absent. Inflorescences