Adenoropium multifidum (L.) Pohl

• Authority

  Britton, Nathaniel L. Flora Borinqueña.

• Family

  Euphorbiaceae

• Scientific Name

  Adenoropium multifidum (L.) Pohl

• Description

  Species Description - Much planted for ornament in tropical gardens, its large clusters of scarlet flowers conspicuous, and its much divided leaves unusual, this shrub or small tree is sometimes spontaneous from seed, and established along roads or in waste grounds in Porto Rico; locally, in the southwestern districts, appearing as, possibly, indigenous, but we do not so regard it, thinking it more likely to have been introduced many years ago, the plant having long been in cultivation; the species has wide distribution in tropical America, and is grown for ornament in the Old World. Tartago emetica and Maná are other Spanish names, and it is also known as Coral Bush in English. Adenoropium multifidum (much-divided leaves) is a smooth shrub, or small tree reaching a maximum height of about 6 meters. The stipules are finely dissected, from 1 to 2 centimeters long; the long-stalked leaves are nearly orbicular in outline, from 10 to 30 centimeters in diameter, deeply several parted, or many-parted into narrow, long-pointed, often toothed segments, green on the upper side, nearly white beneath. The scarlet flowers are numerous, in large, long-stalked clusters, the spatulate petals from 4 to 7 millimeters long. The globose, yellow capsules are 2 or 3 centimeters long.

• Discussion

  Don Tomás Coral Bush Spurge Family Jatropha multifida Linnaeus, Species Plantarum 1066. 1753. Adenorpium multifidum Pohl , Plantarum Brasiliae Icones 1: 16. 1827. For an account of the genus we refer to our description of Adenoropium gossypifolium.