Jatropha dioica Cerv.
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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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Description
Species Description - Subshrubs, to 1.0 m tall. Stems: rhizomatous, reddish brown when actively growing but red to dark red or grayish when dormant, spreading and often forming colonies, much-branched, rubbery-succulent, glabrous; latex clear to cloudy in fast growing shoots but blood-red in basal portion of older shoots and rhizomes; short shoots common. Leaves: deciduous, stipules caducous, linear, 1-2 mm when present; petioles green, sessile to subsesstle; blades fascicled on short shoots; oblong-spathulate to narrowly oblanceolate, undivided or sometimes shallowly or deeply 3-lobed, 0.7-1.8 x 2.5-3.5 (-5.5) cm, membranous, base attenuate, margins entire, apex rounded, venation pinnate (even when lobed); glabrous on both surfaces. Inflorescences: terminal or axillary, staminate with few- to several-flowered fascicles; pistillate 2-3 in a group usually on short shoots; bracts absent; pedicels 1-2.5 mm long. Staminate flowers: sepals ovate to elliptic-lanceolate, 2.5-3 x 1.2-1.4 mm, distinct or connate at base, margins entire, apex acute, glabrous adaxially, pubescent abaxially; corollas urceolate-tubular, white to pinkish white, petals 5-6 x 1.4-1.5 mm, connate for most of length, apex rounded, glabrous adaxially but slightly short-pubescent abaxially; stamens 10, monadelphous-biseriate (5 + 5), filaments connate from less than ½ to ¾ of length, outer series 2-3 mm long and inner series 3-5 mm; basal glands spherical and distinct. Pistillate flowers: like staminate; carpel 1, style 2.5-3 mm long; basal glands fused in a ring. Capsules: ellipsoidal, 1.2-1.4 x 1.1-1.3 cm, apiculate, tardily dehiscent. Seeds: solid gray-brown, spherical, ca 1.2 cm in diam.; caruncle vestigial.
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Discussion
McVaugh (1945b) recognized two varieties primarily based on leaf length/width ratio, although he noted that there may be other variants. In fact, the two varieties are not readily recognizable, and probably hybridization between the two has resulted in intermediate populations, as also was noted by McVaugh. This has resulted in significant uncertainly and confusion. The two varieties are presented here with some reluctance to avoid ambiguity.