Jatropha cuneata
Jatropha multifida
leatherplant, limberbush, physicnut, sangre de drago
coral plant, coralbush, French physic or physic nut, yucca
spreading, yellow to yellow-brown [gray], much-branched, woody-succulent, glabrous; short shoots common;
latex watery, yellow in young shoots, red in older shoots.
erect, yellow-brown, sparsely branched, woody-succulent, glabrous; short shoots absent;
latex viscous, cloudy-whitish.
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).
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.
on short shoots, cymes or flowers solitary;
peduncle 0.4–0.6 cm;
bracts 0.4–1 mm, margins entire, glabrous.
bisexual, terminal and subterminal, cymes;
peduncle 12–30 cm;
bracts 2–4.5 mm, margins entire, glabrous.
1–4(–6.5) mm.
3.5–6 mm.
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 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.
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, 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.
spheric, 0.9–1.1 × 0.9–1.1 cm, tardily dehiscent.
ellipsoidal, winged, 3–3.4 × 2.7–2.9 cm, tardily dehiscent.
solid dark to golden brown, spheric, 10 × 10 mm;
caruncle absent.
yellow to light brown, mottled with dark brown spots or stripes, spheric, 14–18 mm;
caruncle rudimentary.
= 44 (Mexico).
= 22 (Puerto Rico).
Jatropha cuneata
Jatropha multifida
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.)
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.)
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