Jatropha L.

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Monoecious or rarely dioecious trees, shrubs or tuberous-rooted herbs, containing latex, with an indumentum of simple, sometimes glandular hairs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate or clustered on short shoots, simple, usually lobed; stipules present, sometimes modified to spines, branched or not

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences cymose with a female flower terminating each primary axis and lateral cymules of male flowers, or female flower inserted at the base of an otherwise male inflorescence

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 6–10, rarely more, often in 2 whorls of 5 + 3 with filaments fused into a column

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Female flowers: sepals and petals as in male but larger; staminodes sometimes present; disc entire, 5-lobed or of 5 free glands; ovary (1–)2–3(–5)-celled, with 1 ovule per cell; styles entire or bifid Male flowers: sepals (4–)5(–6), imbricate; petals 5, imbricate or contorted, rarely absent; disc entire or of 5 free glands

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit dehiscing septicidally or loculicidally into 3 bivalved cocci, rarely subdrupaceous and ± indehiscent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds with caruncle.

Distribution

Some 175 species throughout the drier tropics and subtropics, extending into extratropical N America and S Africa. About 70 species in Africa with a notable centre of diversity in NE tropical Africa.

Euphorbiaceae, A. Radcliffe-Smith. Flora Zambesiaca 9:4. 1996

Morphology General Habit

Monoecious, rarely dioecious, trees shrubs subshrubs or herbs with the stems arising from a thick perennial rootstock.

Morphology General Indumentum

Indumentum simple and/or glandular.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate, stipulate, petiolate or sessile, simple, entire, lobed or partitely divided, penninerved or palminerved.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules subulate, bifid or multifid, usually glandular.

Morphology Leaves Petiole

Petioles usually eglandular.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminal or subterminal, often corymbiform, cymose, androgynous, protogynous, a solitary female flower terminating each major axis, lateral cymules male; bracts entire or glandular-stipitate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Male flowers: calyx usually 5-lobed, lobes imbricate; petals 5, free or sometimes laterally coherent, imbricate or contorted; disk usually of 5 free glands; stamens 8 (Flora Zambesiaca area), in 2 fused whorls (5 + 3), outer whorl opposite the petals, anthers dorsifixed, longitudinally dehiscent; pistillode absent. Female flowers: calyx and petals more or less as in the male flowers; disk annular, 5-lobed, or sometimes of 5 free glands; staminodes (when present) filiform; ovary usually 3-locular, with 1 ovule per loculus; styles usually united at the base, erect or spreading, stigmas 3, usually bifid and somewhat tumid.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit shallowly 3-lobed, dehiscing septicidally into 3 bivalved cocci, less often loculicidally into 3 valves, sometimes subdrupaceous, indehiscent; endocarp crustaceous or slightly woody; columella persistent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds usually shiny, carunculate, the caruncle usually bifid, fimbriate; testa crustaceous; albumen fleshy; cotyledons broad, flat.

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Morphology General Habit

Plants monoecious, rarely dioecious; flowers in terminal, often long-stalked dichasia, the lower flowers pistillate, the distal ones staminate; calyx 5-lobed; petals 5, imbricate to contorted, free or coherent Herbs, shrubs, or small trees; leaves alternate with blades entire, toothed, or palmately lobed; stipules present, often glandular

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Staminate flowers with mostly 8–12 connate stamens; rudimentary ovary absent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Pistillate flowers with 2–3-celled ovary; styles 2 or 3, connate at base, the stigmas 2-forked; ovules solitary

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a capsule with 1 seed in each locule; seeds with caruncle; endosperm copious.

Distribution

A large tropical genus of perhaps 150 species, the majority in America and Africa.