By - Amal Udawatta, English Name , Indian Acalypha , Indian Mercury, Indian Copperleaf, Indian Nettle, Sinhala Name - Kuppameniya; Tamil Name – Kuppaimeni; Sanskrit Name- Arittamanjariye Scientific Name- Acalypha indica An annual herb 30 -75 cm tall, erect branches numerous , long ascending , angular, leaves.3.7- 7 cm long. 2.8 -7 cm broad. Flowers minute, green unisexual. Male flowers are very small, white in color, short pedicelled in cluster. Female flowers are solitary or in clusters of 2 or 3 scattered. Habitat It grows in disturbed places such as waste lands, road sides, crevices in walls. It also grows in rocky hillsides, forest edges and river banks. It prefers moist and shaded places. It grows from sea-level up to 1350 m altitude. Kuppameniya occurs widely throughout the Old World tropics. In Africa. It also occurs in the hotter parts o f Sri Lanka. Traditional medicine This plant is held in high esteem in traditional Siddha , Ayurveda and In