Jatropha alamani Müll.Arg.
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Authority
Dehgan, Bijan. 2012.
. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 110: 1--274. (Published by NYBG Press) -
Family
Euphorbiaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. Mexico. Tehuantepec, 1832, L. Alaman 7161 (holotype: G-DC; photos of holotype: F, MICH, NY).
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Description
Species Description - Shrubs or small trees to 7 m, dioecious. Stems: pale gray, erect, branches more or less succulent, trunk to 15 cm diam.(dbh), glabrous but sometimes with short pubescence on young growth; latex clear in younger branches but pinkish in older shoots. Leaves: deciduous; stipules absent; petioles 5.5-10.5 cm long and 1-1.3 mm in diam., blades reddish when young, orbicular in outline, 3 wide middle lobes and 2 short laterals, 3.5-16 x 7.5-12 cm, membranous, base cordate, margins entire or often ciliate-glandular on lateral lobes, apex abruptly acuminate, venation palmate with 3-5 primary veins, glabrous on adaxial surface but sparsely puberulent on abaxial veins. Inflorescences: lateral, staminate cymose, peduncles 5-12 cm; pistillate sessile or only shortly pedunculate, bracts narrowly lanceolate, early deciduous, margins ciliate when present; pedicels of staminate flowers 2-3 mm but those of pistillate flowers 2-5 mm. Staminate flowers: sepals ovate, 1-2 x 1-1.5 mm distinct or connate only at base, margins entire to hirsute, apex rounded or scarcely acuminate, glabrous or sparsely pubescent adaxially but pubescent abaxially; corollas subglobose, greenish white to yellowish, petals 3-6 x 1.5-2 mm, connate ¾ or more of length, apex rounded and reflexed, glabrous on both surfaces; stamens 10, monadelphous-biseriate (5 + 5), filaments of outer series ca. 1 mm long and distinct, those of inner series ca. 2 mm and connate ½ of length. Pistillate flowers: like staminate, but sepals longer than corolla tube, 7-8 x 2-2.5 mm, petals 6-7.5 x 1.5-2.5 mm, connate to more than 2/3 of length; carpels 3, ca 1.5 mm, styles connate ½ length. Capsules: oval, 2.2- 2.5 x 2.5-3.2 cm, distinctly 3-lobed and carinate, tardily dehiscent. Seeds: golden-brown, spherical to oval, 1-1.5 cm diam., caruncle vestigial.
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Distribution
Native to the southern Mexican states of Oaxaca and Chiapas and adjacent Guatemala, relatively uncommon, except for a few populations, at ca. 50-400 m, in open areas in thorn scrub, in sandy loam soil, and on volcanic rocks. Flowering and fruiting June through August.
Oaxaca Mexico North America| Chiapas Mexico North America|