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leatherplant, limberbush, physicnut, sangre de drago

leatherstem, limberbush, sangre de drago, sangregado

Habit Shrubs, to 2 m, dioecious. Subshrubs, to 1 m, dioecious, rhizomatous, often forming colonies.
Stems

spreading, yellow to yellow-brown [gray], much-branched, woody-succulent, glabrous; short shoots common;

latex watery, yellow in young shoots, red in older shoots.

spreading, reddish brown (when actively growing) or red to dark red or grayish (when dormant), much-branched, rubbery-succulent, glabrous; short shoots common;

latex watery, colorless to cloudy-whitish in fast growing shoots, blood red in basal portion of older shoots and rhizomes.

Leaves

deciduous, usually fascicled on short shoots;

stipules absent;

petiole 0(–0.2) cm, not stipitate-glandular;

blade obovate-spatulate, 0.7–1.9 × 0.3–0.9 cm, unlobed (shallowly 3-lobed on active shoots), base attenuate, margins entire, apex usually rounded, sometimes emarginate, coriaceous, surfaces glabrous;

venation pinnate (palmate if lobed).

deciduous, fascicled on short shoots;

stipules deciduous, linear, 1–2 mm, undivided;

petiole 0–0.2 cm, not stipitate-glandular;

blade linear-spatulate to narrowly obovate, 1.5–5(–7) × 0.2–0.7 cm, usually unlobed, sometimes shallowly, rarely deeply, 3-lobed, base attenuate, margins entire, apex rounded, membranous, surfaces glabrous;

venation pinnate (palmate if lobed).

Inflorescences

on short shoots, cymes or flowers solitary;

peduncle 0.4–0.6 cm;

bracts 0.4–1 mm, margins entire, glabrous.

terminal or axillary, fascicles;

peduncle absent;

bracts absent.

Pedicels

1–4(–6.5) mm.

1–2.5 mm.

Staminate flowers

sepals connate basally, ovate-lanceolate, 2.5–4 × 0.6–1 mm, margins entire, apex acute, surfaces glabrous;

corolla white, tubular-urceolate, petals connate most of length, 4–6 × 1.3–2 mm, surfaces glabrous;

stamens 10 in 2 whorls (5 + 5);

filaments of both whorls connate almost to top, outer whorl 1–2.5 mm, inner series 2.5–4 mm.

sepals distinct or connate basally, ovate to elliptic-lanceolate, 2.5–3 × 1.2–1.4 mm, margins entire, apex acute, abaxial surface hairy, adaxial glabrous;

corolla white to pinkish white, urceolate-tubular, petals connate most of length, 5–6 × 1.4–1.5 mm, abaxial surface sparsely puberulent abaxially, adaxial glabrous;

stamens 10 in 2 whorls (5 + 5);

filaments of both whorls connate from 1/5–3/4+ length, outer whorl 2–3 mm, inner whorl 3–5 mm.

Pistillate flowers

resembling staminate, but sepals distinct, 1.5–3 × 0.5–1 mm;

petals 4–4.5 × 1–1.5 mm;

carpel 1;

styles 0.5–1 mm.

resembling staminate;

carpel 1;

style 2.5–3 mm.

Capsules

spheric, 0.9–1.1 × 0.9–1.1 cm, tardily dehiscent.

ellipsoidal, 1.2–1.4 × 1.1–1.3 cm, tardily dehiscent.

Seeds

solid dark to golden brown, spheric, 10 × 10 mm;

caruncle absent.

solid gray-brown, spheric, 12 mm diam.;

caruncle rudimentary.

2n

= 44 (Mexico).

= 44.

Jatropha cuneata

Jatropha dioica

Phenology Flowering and fruiting late spring–summer.
Habitat Dry rocky limestone mesas, sandy areas, bajadas.
Elevation 0–800 m. (0–2600 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; Mexico (Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
TX; n Mexico
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

In Arizona, Jatropha cuneata is found only in Pima County, primarily in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge. Its stems have been used in basket making.

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

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

R. McVaugh (1945b) recognized two varieties in Jatropha dioica based primarily on leaf shape; the two are not readily recognizable and probably hybridization between them has resulted in intermediate populations, as McVaugh noted. The varieties are treated here with some reservation.

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

Key
1. Leaf blades oblanceolate to narrowly obovate, 3.5–5(–7) cm; sepals distinct; stamen filaments connate 3/4+ length; petals pinkish white.
var. dioica
1. Leaf blades linear-spatulate, 1.5–2.5 cm; sepals connate basally; stamen filaments connate to 1/4 length; petals white.
var. graminea
Source FNA vol. 12, p. 203. FNA vol. 12, p. 204.
Parent taxa Euphorbiaceae > Jatropha Euphorbiaceae > Jatropha
Sibling taxa
J. canescens, J. cardiophylla, J. cathartica, J. curcas, J. dioica, J. gossypiifolia, J. integerrima, J. macrorhiza, J. multifida
J. canescens, J. cardiophylla, J. cathartica, J. cuneata, J. curcas, J. gossypiifolia, J. integerrima, J. macrorhiza, J. multifida
Subordinate taxa
J. dioica var. dioica, J. dioica var. graminea
Name authority Wiggins & Rollins: Contr. Dudley Herb. 3: 272, plate 62, fig. 1. (1943) Sessé: Gaz. Lit. México 3(suppl.): 4. (1794)
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