Jatropha pedersenii Lourteig

  • Authority

    Dehgan, Bijan. 2012. . Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 110: 1--274. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Euphorbiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Jatropha pedersenii Lourteig

  • Type

    Type. Argentina. Dept. Mburu-cuyá, Prov. Corrientes, Estancia  Santa Terresa, 17 Mar 1954 (fl, fr), T. M. Pedersen 2640 (holotype: P).

  • Description

    Species Description - Subshrubs to 50 cm tall. Stems: green, herbaceous, from a subterranean caudex; latex clear and somewhat viscid. Leaves: deciduous with cauline stems, stipules branched, stipitate glands, 4-6 mm long; petioles 0.8- 1.5 long and 1.5-2 mm in diam., covered with stipitate glands; blades elliptic, only exceptionally lobed, 11-15 x 5.5-7.5 cm, membranous to ± chartaceous, base acutely rounded to cordate, margins glandular-ciliate, apex acute, venation pinnate, pubescent on both surfaces. Inflorescences: terminal, few-flowered cymes, main florescences 5-8 cm and coflorescences 2.5-5.5 cm; peduncles 2.3-6.8 cm long; bracts lanceolate, 6-12 mm, entire or with few glands; pedicels ca. 2-5 mm long. Staminate flowers: sepals lanceolate, 3.5-6 x 1.2-1.6 mm, distinct or connate only at base, margins glandular-ciliate, apex acuminate, glabrous on adaxial surface but pubescent on abaxial; corollas campanulate, greenish yellow to yellow, petals obovate, 7-10 x 1.7-2.9 mm, distinct, imbricate, apex round and somewhat reflexed; stamens 8 (-9), diadelphous-biseriate (5 + 3), outer series 4-5.5 mm long and connate ½-¾ of length, inner series 4.5-6 mm long and connate ¾ of length, anthers ca. 2 mm long; basal glands fusiform. Pistillate flowers: like staminate but sepals 4.5-6.5 x 1.4-1.7 mm, tomentose abaxially but glabrous abax-ially; petals 7-9 mm x 1.8-2.8 mm; carpels 3, styles ca 4 mm long, connate only at base or distinct. Capsule: oblong-ellipsoid, distinctly 3-lobed, 1.1 x 0.9 cm, glabrous, explosively dehiscent. Seeds: yellowish, mottled light brown, oval, 6.0-7.5 x 4-5 mm, caruncle prominent, lobed.

  • Discussion

    Local names and uses. Not reported, but considering the close affinity and often confused identity of members of the section Isabellae, information noted for the other taxa in the group may apply to this species as well.

    This species differs from Jatropha isabellei by its narrow, elliptic leaves with entire margins; pubescent leaf surfaces; long-pedunculate inflorescences; and yellowish green flowers. By contrast, J. isabellei has predominantly wide, ovate-elliptic leaves that are sometimes variously lobed; pubescent to glabrous leaf surfaces; short-pedunculate inflorescences, and reddish maroon flowers.

    Leaves of this species and other members of the subsection are shown in

  • Distribution

    Endemic to Corrientes Province, Argentina. Flowering and fruiting primarily during the active growing periods of spring and summer.

    Corrientes Argentina South America|