Manihot pilosa Pohl

  • 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

    Manihot pilosa Pohl

  • Type

    TYPE. Martius 942: Brasil, Minas Gerais: bei Antonio Pereira (syntypes, F, G, M).

  • Synonyms

    Jatropha pilosa Steud., Manihot pedicellaris Müll.Arg., Manihot hemitrichandra Müll.Arg., Manihot langsdorffii Müll.Arg., Manihot tubuliflora Pax & K.Hoffm., Manihot brevipedicellata Pax & K.Hoffm.

  • Description

    Description - Tall, erect shrubs (3.0 m tall) to slender trees (10.0 m tall); lower trunk smooth, woody, 8.0-12.0 cm in diameter, with little pith. Roots slender, 2.5-5.0 cm in diameter, slightly enlarged in places; epidermis slightly rough, light tan; subepidermis tan; cortex cream. Young stems pubescent, obtuse-angled in cross section, grayish-brown; mature stems sparsely pubescent, dark brown. Leaves alternate, stipules short, less than 0.5 cm long, pubescent, caducous; petioles long, usually ca 20.0 cm long, sometimes as long as 45.0 cm, obtuse-angled, pubescent, dark red, petiole attachment to lamina basal, nonpeltate; abaxial lamina surface wax pattern reticulate; venation camptodromous, veins on abaxial lamina surface pubescent; palmately 5~9 lobed, median lobes oblong, usually 10.0-15.0 cm long, ca 4.0 cm wide, sometimes as long as 25.0 cm and as wide as 6.0 cm, margin entire, rarely undulate, apex acuminate, base cuneate, base of lobes 0.25-1.0 cm wide; lowest lobes similar to median lobes in outline but smaller. Inflorescence a monoecious, moderately branched, terminal panicle, flowers clustered at the terminal region of peduncles, ca 10.0 cm long, peduncles and pedicels pubescent; bracts and bracteoles short, less than 0.5 cm long, setaceous, pubescent, caducous. Pistillate flowers restricted to the base of the upper half of the inflorescence, pedicels 1.0-2.0 cm long, tepal 1.0 cm long; disc brilliant yellow (2.5 Y 9/9), ovary tomentose. Staminate buds bifusiform with a distinct constriction in the middle, flowers medium sized, tepal 1.0 cm long, cleft 1/3 down into 5 lobes, sparsely pubescent, apex of tepal lobes brilliant greenish yellow (7.5 Y 9/8), base of tepal brilliant yellow green (5 GY 8/8) with dark purplish pigmentation in the region of the sinus of tepal lobes; stamens 10, in 2 whorls of 5 each, the superior whorl 0.6 cm long, the inferior whorl 0.5 cm. Capsules ellipsoidal, 1.0-1.5 cm in diameter, surface smooth, without wings, dehiscence septicidal. Seeds oblong 1.0 cm long.

  • Discussion

    The closest relative of Manihot pilosa is M. janiphoides, which in turn, is a member of the Af esculenta "complex" (see Fig 28). The most important distinguishing characters of this species are the bifusiform shape of the buds of the staminate flower, and the tendency to produce the staminate flowers in clusters at the terminal regions of the peduncles.

    The number of synonyms indicate our change in species concepts from the concepts of earlier botanists. Manihot pilosa is a variable species with several growth forms. It, like many other Manihot species, inhabits regions evidently disturbed by man, and apparently colonizes easily. The seedling plants are frequently more robust than the mature plants, a source of confusion to the earlier botanists.

  • Common Names

    Mandioca braba, maniva de veado

  • Distribution

    Brasil, in the states of Minas Gerais, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Common in secondary woodlands, along stream banks, in sandy loam soils and among rocky outcrops. Altitudes to ca 1500 m.

    Brazil South America| Minas Gerais Brazil South America| São Paulo Brazil South America| Rio de Janeiro Brazil South America|