Jatropha macrocarpa Griseb.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Euphorbiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Jatropha macrocarpa Griseb.

  • Type

    Type. Argentina. Catamarca: Fuerte de Andalgalá, P. G. Lorentz 384 (lectotype, here designated: G; photos of lectotype: DAV, F, MICH, MO, NY, UC; syntypes 686: GOET, 9600, 9679).

  • Synonyms

    Jatropha multiflora Pax & K.Hoffm., Jatropha papyrifera Pax & K.Hoffm.

  • Description

    Species Description - Shrubs, to 3 m tall. Stems: grayish white, erect, succulent with soft wood and chambered pith, leaf scars large, protruding and pointed; latex clear in younger shoots but cloudy in older branches; bark peeling near base. Leaves: deciduous, exstipulate; petioles 6-13.5 (-38) cm long and 2-3.5(-4) mm in diam.; blades deeply divided or parted into 3 large and 2 smaller, elliptic segments, 11-19(-31) x 5.7-13.5(-19.5) cm, lobes 3.3-8 cm wide, ± coriaceous, base cordate, margins entire and narrowly hyaline-yellow, apex acuminate, venation palmate with each lobe having a single primary vein, glabrous on both surfaces. Inflorescences: terminal becoming lateral with continued growth, elongated, paniculate cymes, paracladia spiral, peduncles (5.7-)10-19.5(-32) cm long; bracts lanceolate, 4.5-15 mm long, margins entire, glabrous; pedicels 1.5-2 mm long. Staminate flowers: sepals lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 3.5-5 x 1-1.5 mm, distinct, margins entire but sometimes serrulate (not glandular), apex acuminate, glabrous on both surfaces; corollas campanulate, red in bud, yellowish pink and often bicolor (adaxial side yellow and abaxial side reddish or red-tinged), petals oblong-obovate, 10-13 x 3.5-4.5 mm, distinct, apex acute, not reflexed, glabrous on both surfaces; stamens 8 (-9 or 10), biseriate (5 + 3 or 4 + 4), filaments connate ca. ½ of length at anthesis but apostemonous at maturity, outer series 1-2.5 mm long and inner series 2-4 mm; anthers saggitate, 1.5-1.7 mm long; disc glands large, distinct. Pistillate flowers: like staminate but sepals 4-6 x 1.7-2.5 mm; petalsl 1-14 x 4-5 mm; carpels 3, styles 3(-4), short, ca. 1 mm long, distinct, stigmas capitate, fleshy. Capsules: spherical, 2-2.1 cm long and wide, initially yellow turning green when mature, explosively dehiscent. Seeds: yellow to golden-brown with light brown mottling, oval, ± flat, 1.2-1.3 x 1-1.1 cm, caruncle large and prominent.

  • Discussion

    Local names: Liguera del zorro, higuerilla, médula septada, nogalillo, piñion silvatica, and sacha-nogal.

    The elongated inflorescences in Jatropha macrocarpa and J. pachypoda with spirally arranged paracladia of the paniculate cymes differ from the compact, capitate inflorescences of taxa in section Peltatae. They more closely resemble those of the species in section Jatropha, such as J. excisa (see Fig. 6). Jatropha macrocarpa appears to be closely related to J. pachypoda, but differs from it in having larger inflorescence with more flowers, absence of a distinct caudex (but stems succulent), narrower leaf segments with thin, hyaline margins; and bicolor flowers whose petals have a straight apex as opposed to a reflexed apex. Pax and Hoffmann (1924) noted the affinity of J. multiflora with J. macrocarpa Griseb., but mentioned the significantly different inflorescence and foliage of J. macrocarpa. Vegetative herbarium specimens of J. macrocarpa and J. pachypoda are sometimes difficult to distinguish.

  • Distribution

    Contiguous areas of northern Argentina, northeastern Paraguay, and southern Bolivia, at ca. 500-1500 m on sandy loam in seasonally dry habitats. Disjunct small populations also occur in Bahia, Brazil and Santa Cruz, Bolivia. (See Fig. 49, below.) Flowering and fruiting soon after active growth begins and throughout summer.

    Bahia Brazil South America| Santa Cruz Bolivia South America| Chaco Paraguay South America| Catamarca Argentina South America| Jujuy Argentina South America| La Rioja Argentina South America| Salta Argentina South America| Santiago del Estero Argentina South America| Tucuman Argentina South America|