Manihot surinamensis D.J.Rogers & Appan
-
Authority
Rogers, David J. & Appan, S. G. 1973. Manibot, Manihotoides (Euphorbiaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 13: 1-272. 1 chart. (Published by NYBG Press)
-
Family
Euphorbiaceae
-
Scientific Name
-
Type
TYPE. Rombouts 464: Suriname: upper Sipaliwini R., 9 Feb 1936 (holotype, U; isotypes NY, MO).
-
Description
Latin Diagnosis - Frutices gracili. Folia 5-7 lobatus; lobi mediani linearis, ca 10 cm longa, deminutus apicem versus. Inflorescentia panicula monoecious; ca 9.0 cm longa, flores fasciculatus versus pedunculorum terminalis extrema. Pistillatus flores ca 0.5 cm longae. Staminati gemmae ovoideus-ellipsoideus, flores parvi, minus quam 0.5 cm longae, fructi non vidi.
Description - Slender shrubs. Young stems glabrous, light brown; mature stems glabrous, dark brown. Leaves alternate; stipules persistent, setaceous, less than 0.5 cm long; petioles ca 8.0 cm long, glabrous; lamina narrowly peltate, width between the basal edge of lamina and petiole-lamina junction less than 0.25 cm, abaxial and adaxial surfaces glabrous, abaxial surface wax pattern reticulate; venation mostly craspedodromous, occasionally camptodromous, veins glabrous; palmately 5 lobed, occasionally 7; median lobes linear with 2 falcate lobules near the base of the lobe, ca 10.0 cm long, gradually tapering towards the apex, apex acuminate, base of lobes less than 0.5 cm wide, lamina between base of sinus and petiole-midrib junction less than 0.5 cm wide; lowest lobes alternate usually ca 1/4 as long as median lobes. Inflorescence a monoecious, medium sized, panicle, ca 9.0 cm long, flowers clustered at the terminal regions of peduncles, lower half of the rachis usually devoid of flowers, all parts glabrous, bracteoles and bractlets setaceous, ca 1.0 cm long. Pistillate flowers restricted to the base of the upper half of the inflorescence, pedicel ca 1.0 cm long, tepal less than 0.5 cm long, ovary subglobose. Staminate buds ovoid-ellipsoid, flowers small, less than 0.5 cm long, cleft ca 1/3 down into 5 lobes, stamens 10 arranged in 2 whorls of 5 each. Fruits non vidi.
-
Discussion
Jennings (1959) mentions the use of Manihot melanobasis in breeding experiments with cassava in East Africa. It is clear that there was a misdetermination in case of the actual plants that were used in the experiments, because we have determined from the type material that M. melanobasis is a synonym of M. esculenta. From the description of the plants actually used by Jennings and from the geographic region from which the breeding material was collected we believe that M. surinamensis was the species used. It is unfortunate that documenting herbarium specimens of materials used by plant breeders are seldom collected and as a result the breeders work cannot be affirmed.
-
Distribution
(Fig 30D) Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname, in savannas. Specimens doubtfully assigned to Manihot surinamesis:
Venezuela South America| Guyana South America| Suriname South America|