Manihot anomala Pohl
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Authority
Rogers, David J. & Appan, S. G. 1973. Manibot, Manihotoides (Euphorbiaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 13: 1-272. 1 chart. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Euphorbiaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Description - Shrubs, to 3.0 m tall, frequently branched. Roots with intermittent tuberous enlargements, with milky latex and slight odor of HCN; epidermis rough, light yellowish brown to dark brown; subepidermis light tan, cortex with a watery consistency. Young stems glabrous or pubescent; mature stems woody with small pith, glabrous or pubescent, externally brown with green undercast, internally greenish white. Leaves alternate; young leaf and bud color strong yellow-green (5 GY 5/6) stipules caducous, filiform, glabrous or pubescent; petioles ca 10.0 cm long, terete, glabrous or pubescent, yellowish green or dark red (2.5 R 3/7), petiole attachment to lamina basal, nonpeltate; lamina membranaceous, abaxial surface wax pattern smooth; venation camptodromous, rarely craspedodromous, veins glabrous or pubescent; lamina 3-, rarely 5 lobed, leaves associated with the inflorescence frequently nonlobed; median lobes obovate, obovate pandurate, elliptic or narrowly elliptic with a repand or incised margin, usually 10.0-15.0 cm long, occasionally longer, 2.0-10.0 cm wide, apex acute to acuminate, base of lobes 0.75-3.0 cm wide, width between base of sinus and petiole-lamina junction 0.75-3.0 cm; lowest lobes prominently nonsymmetric. Inflorescence monoecious, terminal, a cluster of subspicate racemes, to ca 15.0 cm long, totally glabrous or with various degrees of pubescence; bracteoles and bractlets foliaceous, semifoliaceous or setaceous, margins usually entire; rarely serrate, yellowish green or with some purplish pigmentation. Pistillate flowers restricted to the base of the upper 2/3 of the inflorescence, pedicels 1.0-2.0 cm long, tepal to 2.0 cm long, yellowish green or with various degrees of purplish pigmentation, in the latter case usually the exterior surface is green and interior surface with dark maroon stripes, cleft to base into 5 lobes; disc light yellow to reddish orange; ovary subglobse, the trifid stigma well lobed and lobulate. Staminate buds globose or ovoid-ellipsoid to slightly constricted in the middle, flowers small (0.75 cm long) to large (2.0 cm long); color of tepal same as that of pistillate tepal, cleft 1/3 way down into 5 lobes; disc light yellow to reddish orange; stamens 10, in 2 whorls of 5 each. Capsules 0.75-1.5 cm long, subglobose to slightly elongated, surface smooth without prominent wings, apex rounded, dehiscence septicidal. Seeds 0.6-1.2 cm long, oblong, caruncle usually prominent.
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Discussion
Manihot anomala has one of the widest distributions of the wild species of the genus. As a result of this distribution, and the great variability in leaf morphology, many of the phenotypic variations have been described as species. The senior author’s collections of one of the subspecies (pavoniana) indicate the wide variation in one population (Figs 76B, C, D; 77A, B, C). The unifying character of the species is the cluster of subspicate racemes.
The variability in the phenotypes of this species indicates a highly heterozygous gene pool. The disturbed habitats in which the plants occur indicate that man has played a role in the expression of this phenotypic plasticity, much as in the case of the consciously cultivated species. Manihot esculenta. -
Distribution
(Fig 74A). Brasil, states of Para, Mato Grosso, Goias, Minas Gerais, São Paulo and in Distrito Federal; Paraguay; Peru in Depts Cusco and Apurimac; Bolivia, Depts La Paz and Santa Cruz; Argentina, Provinces Jujuy, Salta, Catamarca and Tucuman. Alt ca 300-1000 m. In disturbed gallery forest, rocky slopes, creek margins, savanna, and in flat country.
Brazil South America| Pará Brazil South America| Goiás Brazil South America| Distrito Federal Brazil South America| Minas Gerais Brazil South America| São Paulo Brazil South America| Mato Grosso Brazil South America|