Jatropha dioica var. dioica
Jatropha
leatherstem
nettlespurge
deciduous or persistent, alternate but sometimes appearing fascicled, simple;
stipules absent or present, persistent or deciduous;
petiole absent or present, glands absent at apex, sometimes stipitate-glandular along length;
blade unlobed or palmately lobed, margins entire, serrate, or dentate, laminar glands absent;
venation pinnate or palmate.
unisexual or bisexual (pistillate flowers central, staminate lateral), axillary or terminal, cymes or fascicles, or flowers solitary;
glands subtending each bract 0.
present.
sepals distinct;
petals pinkish white;
stamen filaments connate 3/4+ length.
sepals 5, imbricate, distinct or connate to 1/2 length;
petals 5, distinct or connate basally to most of length, white, greenish yellow, pink, red, or purple [yellow, yellow-brown, orange, or 2-colored];
nectary extrastaminal, annular and 5-lobed or of 5 glands;
stamens [6–]8 or 10 in 1–2 whorls, distinct or connate basally to most of length;
pistillode absent.
sepals 5, imbricate, distinct or connate to 1/2 length;
petals 5, distinct or connate basally to most of length, white, greenish yellow, pink, red, or purple [yellow, yellow-brown, orange, or 2-colored];
nectary annular and 5-lobed or 5 glands;
staminodes sometimes present;
pistil 1–3-carpellate;
styles (1–)3, distinct or connate basally to most of length [absent], 2-fid.
capsules, ± fleshy, sometimes tardily dehiscent.
ellipsoid to globose;
caruncle present (sometimes rudimentary) or absent.
= 11.
Jatropha dioica var. dioica
Jatropha
Variety dioica is widespread in eastern Mexico south to Zacatecas. R. McVaugh (1945b) reported the range as south to Oaxaca but most of the specimens annotated by him and others as this taxon are currently recognized as two related but morphologically distinct species (Jatropha elbae J. Jiménez Ramírez, and J. oaxacana J. Jiménez Ramírez & R. Torres). In Texas, it is found mainly south and east of the Pecos River.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Species ca. 190 (10 in the flora).
Some species of Jatropha are cultivated as ornamentals throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, notably J. integerrima, J. multifida, and J. podagrica Hooker. These and J. curcas Linnaeus and J. gossypiifolia Linnaeus have escaped from cultivation in subtropical regions. Jatropha curcas (physic nut), which probably originated in Central America, is now pantropical and is extensively cultivated for production of biodiesel from its seeds, which are also eaten as roasted nuts and used as a purgative and for other medicinal purposes. More than 50 New World species are known from cultivation in the United States, either as ornamentals or for medicinal purposes, many of which are being studied. Some African species are in cultivation, primarily by collectors of succulent plants.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Perennial herbs or rhizomatous subshrubs to 1 m; stems herbaceous or rubbery-succulent. | → 2 |
2. Perennial herbs with subterranean caudices, to 0.5 m; stems green; plants monoecious; carpels 3. | → 3 |
3. Caudices woody, stem scars crescent-shaped; leaf blades lobed nearly to base; corollas deep red; stamens distinct at maturity; Texas. | J. cathartica |
3. Caudices ± fleshy, stem scars round; leaf blades lobed to middle; corollas light pink; stamens: outer 5 distinct, inner 3 connate to 1/2 length; Arizona, New Mexico, Texas. | J. macrorhiza |
2. Rhizomatous subshrubs 0.5–1 m; stems reddish brown; plants dioecious; carpel 1. | → 4 |
4. Petioles 1–2.5 cm; leaf blades widely ovate-deltate, 1.5–2.6 cm wide, unlobed, margins sinuate to weakly serrate-crenate; Arizona. | J. cardiophylla |
4. Petioles 0–0.2 cm; leaf blades linear-spatulate to narrowly obovate, 0.2–0.7 cm wide, sometimes 3-lobed, margins entire; Texas. | J. dioica |
1. Shrubs or trees, 1–10 m; stems woody or woody-succulent. | → 5 |
5. Short shoots present; plants dioecious; corollas usually white, sometimes pinkish, petals connate 1/2+ length; Arizona. | → 6 |
6. Latex cloudy-whitish; leaves mostly ± evenly distributed on long shoots, few on short shoots, petioles 1.3–3 cm, blades cordate to broadly ovate, 2.2–3.5 × 1.6–3 cm, canescent abaxially, sparingly hairy adaxially; corollas subglobose-urceolate; carpels 2. | J. canescens |
6. Latex yellow in young shoots, red in older shoots; leaves usually fascicled on short shoots, petioles 0(–0.2) cm, blades obovate-spatulate, 0.7–1.9 × 0.3–0.9 cm, glabrous; corollas tubular-urceolate; carpel 1. | J. cuneata |
5. Short shoots absent; plants monoecious; corollas greenish yellow, pink, red, orange, or purple, petals distinct or connate to 1/2 length; Florida. | → 7 |
7. Stipules persistent, filiform-divided; stamens 8; styles distinct or connate to 1/4 length. | → 8 |
8. Stipules, petioles, and/or leaf margins glandular; leaf blade 3–5-lobed; petals connate 1/4–1/2 length. | J. gossypiifolia |
8. Stipules, petioles, and leaf margins not glandular; leaf blade 9–11-lobed; petals distinct. | J. multifida |
7. Stipules caducous (narrowly lanceolate) or absent; stamens 10; styles connate 1/2+ length. | → 9 |
9. Shrubs 2.5–5 m; corollas rotate, bright red to scarlet or pink; capsules explosively dehiscent. | J. integerrima |
9. Trees to 10 m; corollas campanulate, greenish yellow; capsules drupaceous. | J. curcas |
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