Manihot gracilis 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 gracilis Pohl

  • Description

    Description - Subshrubs, several (5-15) divergent stems arising from a woody base, stems usually ascending, sometimes prostrate, to 1.0 m tall. Young stems obtuse angled in cross section, glabrous; mature stems glabrous. Leaves alternate; stipules sometimes persistent, filiform, 0.5 cm long, glabrous; petioles short, ca 4.0 cm long, terete, glabrous, petiole attachment to lamina basal, nonpeltate; lamina membranaceous, abaxial surface wax pattern reticulate; venation camptodromous, veins glabrous; lamina 3 lobed; median lobes linear or narrowly lanceolate, to 9.0 cm long, apex acuminate; lowest lobes more or less similar to median lobes in outline, slightly nonsymmetric. Inflorescence monoecious, terminal, short racemes, simple or a cluster of 2-4 racemes arising from a common base, ca 3.0 cm long, all parts glabrous; bracteoles semifoliaceous, ca 1.5 cm long, ca 0.3 cm wide, margins laciniate; bractlets semifoliaceous, ca 1.0 cm long, 0.2 cm wide, margins laciniate. Pistillate flowers restricted to the base of the inflorescence, pedicels less than 1.0 cm long, tepal 0.9 cm long, cleft to base into 5 lobes, ovary subglobose, the trifid stigma sparsely lobed and lobulate. Staminate buds conical; flowers small; tepal 0.9 cm long, cleft 1/3 way down into 5 lobes; stamens 10, in 2 whorls of 5 each. Capsules small, subglobose, 1.0 cm long, surface smooth, apex rounded, dehiscence septicidal. Seeds small, 0.8 cm long, oblong, caruncle not prominent.

  • Distribution

    (Fig 69C). Brasil, states of Goias, Minas Gerais, São Paulo and Distrito Federal; Paraguay. Alt ca 1000 m in cerrado, "canga" soil.

    Brazil South America| Goiás Brazil South America| Minas Gerais Brazil South America| São Paulo Brazil South America| Distrito Federal Brazil South America| Paraguay South America|