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Berlandier's nettlespurge

coral plant, coralbush, French physic or physic nut, yucca

Habit Herbs, perennial, to 0.3 m, monoecious, with woody subterranean caudex to 13.5 cm diam., stem and root scars crescent-shaped. Shrubs or trees, to 7 m, monoecious.
Stems

erect, green, sparsely branched, herbaceous, somewhat succulent, glabrous; short shoots absent;

latex watery, cloudy-whitish.

erect, yellow-brown, sparsely branched, woody-succulent, glabrous; short shoots absent;

latex viscous, cloudy-whitish.

Leaves

± evenly distributed on long shoots;

stipules persistent, 2–3 mm, deeply divided into linear-lanceolate segments;

petiole 6–10 cm, not stipitate-glandular;

blade cordate in outline, 6–11 × 3.5–6 cm, deeply 5–7-lobed nearly to base, segments deeply lobed, base cordate, margins coarsely dentate, apex acuminate, membranous, surfaces glabrous;

venation palmate.

persistent or drought-deciduous, mostly borne on or near branch tips;

stipules persistent, (3–)6–15(–25) mm, filiform-divided;

petiole 11–29 cm, not stipitate-glandular;

blade ovate-cordate in outline, 16–30 × 10–22 cm, deeply 9–11-lobed nearly to base, base rounded, margins incised, apex acuminate, membranous, surfaces glabrous;

venation palmate.

Inflorescences

bisexual, terminal and subterminal, cymes;

peduncle 7.5–11 cm;

bracts 3–10 mm, margins entire, glabrous.

bisexual, terminal and subterminal, cymes;

peduncle 12–30 cm;

bracts 2–4.5 mm, margins entire, glabrous.

Pedicels

9–13 mm.

3.5–6 mm.

Staminate flowers

sepals connate 1/2 length, ovate, 2–2.5 × 1–1.2 mm, margins usually entire, rarely 1–2-lobed, apex acute, surfaces glabrous;

corolla deep red, rotate-campanulate, petals distinct, 7–10 × 2–3 mm, surfaces glabrous;

stamens 8 in 2 whorls (5 + 3);

filaments of each whorl appearing connate 1/2 length at anthesis, distinct at maturity, both whorls 2.5–3 mm.

sepals connate to 1/2 length, ovate, 1.5–3 × 1–1.2 mm, margins entire, apex round, surfaces glabrous;

corolla orange-red, campanulate, petals distinct, 5–7 × 2.5–3 mm, surfaces glabrous;

stamens 8 in 1 whorl;

filaments distinct, 2.2–2.5 mm.

Pistillate flowers

resembling staminate, but sepals distinct, lanceolate, 2.5–3.5 × 0.8–1 mm;

corolla rotate, petals 7–9 × 2.5–2.8 mm;

carpels 3;

styles connate to 3/4 length, 0.5–1.5 mm.

resembling staminate, but sepals 2–3.5 × 1.1–1.3 mm;

petals 6–8.2 × 2–3.2 mm;

carpels (1–)3;

styles distinct, 1–1.2 mm.

Capsules

spheric, 1–1.5 × 1–1.5 cm, explosively dehiscent.

ellipsoidal, winged, 3–3.4 × 2.7–2.9 cm, tardily dehiscent.

Seeds

brown with darker markings, ellipsoidal, 9–13 × 5–7 mm;

caruncle prominent.

yellow to light brown, mottled with dark brown spots or stripes, spheric, 14–18 mm;

caruncle rudimentary.

2n

= 22.

= 22 (Puerto Rico).

Jatropha cathartica

Jatropha multifida

Phenology Flowering and fruiting spring–summer. Flowering and fruiting year-round.
Habitat Grassy clay-rocky and saline flats. Disturbed sites.
Elevation 1000–2500 m. (3300–8200 ft.) 0–50 m. (0–200 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
TX; Mexico (Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas)
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
FL; West Indies [Introduced in North America; introduced also in Mexico, Central America, South America, Asia, Africa, Pacific Islands, Australia]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Jatropha cathartica is attractive and is threatened by extensive collecting by growers and collectors of succulent plants. In the flora area, the species is known from south Texas.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

The geographical origin of Jatropha multifida cannot be determined with certainty; it is probably native to the West Indies. The species is widely cultivated throughout the tropics as an ornamental and has escaped and naturalized in many areas, including central and southern Florida.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 12, p. 200. FNA vol. 12, p. 201.
Parent taxa Euphorbiaceae > Jatropha Euphorbiaceae > Jatropha
Sibling taxa
J. canescens, J. cardiophylla, J. cuneata, J. curcas, J. dioica, J. gossypiifolia, J. integerrima, J. macrorhiza, J. multifida
J. canescens, J. cardiophylla, J. cathartica, J. cuneata, J. curcas, J. dioica, J. gossypiifolia, J. integerrima, J. macrorhiza
Synonyms J. berlandieri
Name authority Terán & Berlandier: in J. L. Berlandier, Mem. Comis. Limites, 9. (1832) Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 1006. (1753)
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