Manihot leptophylla Pax in Engl.

  • 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 leptophylla Pax & K.Hoffm.

  • Type

    TYPE. Eggers 15156: Ecuador, Manabi: bei El Recreo, 20 Mar 1897 (syntypes, photo at F, K, NY, S, US).

  • Synonyms

    Manihot palmata var. ferruginea Müll.Arg., Manihot dulcis var. ferruginea (Müll.Arg.) Pax

  • Description

    Description - Subscandent, woody, vine-like shrubs, clambering over other vegetation; branches to 7.0 m long, slender, virgate; copious latex, ordorless. Roots long, not tuberous; epidermis smooth, moderate brown (5 YR 3/3); subepidermis moderate orange-yellow (7.5 YR 8/8); cortex cream colored. Young stems pubescent; mature stems pubescent, moderate brown (5 YR 3/3) externally, cream colored internally. Young foliage at apex moderate yellow-green (2.5 GY 5/5); leaves alternate; stipules caducous, setaceous, pubescent; petioles ca 10.0 cm long, terete, pubescent, moderate reddish brown (7.5 R 3/6), petiole attachment to lamina basal, nonpeltate; lamina membranaceous, abaxial surface wax pattern reticulate; venation camptodromous, veins pubescent; lamina palmately 5 lobed, occasionally 3 lobed, leaves associated with the inflorescence frequently nonlobed; median lobes elliptic to lanceolate, ca 15.0 cm long, ca 4.0 cm wide, apex acuminate, base of lobes narrowly constricted, less than 0.3 cm wide, width between base of sinus and petiole-lamina junction less than 0.3 cm; lowest lobes more or less similar to median lobes in length, slightly nonsymmetric. Inflorescence a monoecious, terminal panicle, varying considerably in size, 10.0-30.0 cm long; peduncles and pedicels pubescent; bracteoles and bractlets setaceous, less than 0.5 cm long, less than 0.2 cm wide, pubescent, often purplish tinged, margins entire. Pistillate flowers restricted to the base of the upper 2/3 of the inflorescence, tepal 1.2 cm long, pale orange-yellow (7.5 YR 9/4) externally, dark red (5 R 3/7) internally, sparsely pubescent internally and externally, cleft to base into 5 lobes, ovary subglobose, glabrous. Staminate buds ovoid-ellipsoid; flowers medium sized; tepal 1.2 cm long, color same as pistillate tepal, cleft 1/3 way down into 5 lobes; stamens 10, in 2 whorls of 5 each. Capsules 1.5 cm long, subglobose, surface smooth, apex rounded, abruptly ending in a short pointed projection, dehiscence septicidal. Seeds 1.0 cm long, oblong, dark brownish gray with few mottlings; caruncle very small and inconspicious.

  • Discussion

    USES. According to Carneiro and Dole, this species is sometimes a volunteer in gardens of M. esculenta, and the roots are infrequently harvested for food.

    The epithet Manihot leptophylla is the first available, legitimate name for this species. We have reviewed the problems of M. palmata under species 28, M. leptopoda. The epithet, ferruginea is not available as a species name because Ule (Bot. Jahrb. Syst.

    1. (Beibl. 114): 2. 1914) preempted it for one of his own species with another type. Manihot ferruginea Ule = M. caerulescens Pohl emend Rogers & Appan, subsp caerulescens Rogers & Appan.

    Refer to the remarks under the previous species (M. brachyloba) for geographical discussions and morphological distinctions.

  • Common Names

    maniva de veado, yuca del monte, yuca de raton, Yuquilla, yushiwa asti, spirits manioc

  • Distribution

    (Fig 89D). Ecuador, Provinces Pichincha, Manabi, and Pastaza; Peru, Departments Loreto, San Martin, Huanuco, Junin, Cusco and Ayacucho; Brasil, States Amazonas, Para, Pernambuco and Acre. Alt to 2000 m. Among second growth low vegetation, forest openings, roadsides and close to river banks.

    Ecuador South America| Pichincha Ecuador South America| Pastaza Ecuador South America| Loreto Peru South America| San Martín Peru South America| Huánuco Peru South America| Junín Peru South America| Cusco Peru South America| Ayacucho Peru South America| Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America| Pará Brazil South America| Pernambuco Brazil South America| Acre Brazil South America|