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Malesian Euphorbiaceae Descriptions |
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Welzen, P.C. van, F.S.T. Sweet & F.J. Fernández-Casas. 2017. A revision of Jatropha (Euphorbiaceae) in Malesia. Bluma 62: 58–74.
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Jatropha L., Sp. Pl. 2 (1753) 1006; Gen. Pl., ed. 5 (1754) 437; A.Juss., Euphorb. Gen. (1824) 37; Baill., Étude Euphorb. (1858) 294; Miq., Fl. Ned. Ind. 1, 2 (1859) 391; Müll.Arg. in DC., Prodr. 15, 2 (1866) 1076; Kurz, Forest Fl. Burma 2 (1877) 402; Benth. in Benth. & Hook.f., Gen. Pl. 3 (1880) 290; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 5 (1887) 382; Pax in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV.147.i (1910) 21; Gagnep. in Lecomte, Fl. Indo-Chine 5 (1926) 323; Pax & K.Hoffm. in Engl. & Harms, Nat. Pflanzenfam. ed. 2, 19c (1931) 160; McVaugh, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 72 (1945) 271; Backer & Bakh.f., Fl. Java 1 (1963) 494; Airy Shaw, Kew Bull. 26 (1972) 283; Kew Bull., Addit. Ser. 4 (1975)137; Dehgan & G.L.Webster, Univ. Calif. Publ. Bot. 74 (1979) 1; Airy Shaw, Kew Bull. 37 (1982) 25; Grierson & D.G.Long, Fl. Bhutan 1 (1987) 790; Radcl.-Sm., Fl. Trop. E. Afr. Euph. 1 (1987) 343; G.L.Webster, Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 81 (1994) 103; Philcox in Dassan., Fl. Ceyl. 11 (1997) 83; Govaerts et al., World Checkl. & Bibliogr. Euphorbiaceae 3 (2000) 1017; Radcl.-Sm., Gen. Euphorbiacearum (2001) 288; Chantharaprasong & Welzen in Welzen & Chayam., Fl. Thailand 8, 2 (2007) 343; Li Bingtao & M.G.Gilbert in Wu Zhengyi & P.H.Raven, Fl. China 11 (2008) 268; G.L.Webster in Kubitzki, Fam. Gen. Vasc. Pl. 11 (2014) 125; Fern.Casas, Adumbrationes 73 (2016) 2; Welzen, F.S.T.Sweet & Fern.Casas, Blumea 62 (2017) 59. ― Jatropha L. Subg. Jatropha Subsect. Jatropha: Dehgan & G.L.Webster, Univ. Calif. Publ. Bot. 74 (1979) 39. ― Conserved Type (Wiersema et al., Regnum Vegetabile 157, 2015: 238): Jatropha gossypiifolia L.
Curcas Adans., Fam. Pl. 2 (1763) 356; Baill., Étude Euphorb. (1858) 313; Britton & Milsp., Bahama Fl. (1920) 224. ― Curcas Adans. Section Eucurcas Baill., Étude Euphorb. (1858) 314, nom. inval. ― Type: Jatropha curcas L. (Adanson did not provide a species name, the combination Curcas adansonii Endl. ex Heynh. was made later).
Castiglionia Ruiz & Pav., Fl. Peruv. Prodr. (1794) 139. ― Type: Castiglionia lobata Ruiz & Pav. [= Jatropha curcas L.]
Mozinna Ortega, Nov. Pl. Descr. Dec. 8 (1798) 104; A.Juss. Euphorb. Gen. (1824) 35; Hook., Icon. Pl. 4 (1841) t. 357. ― Curcas Adans. Section Mozinna (Ortega) Baill., Étude Euphorb. (1858) 315. ― Type: Mozinna spathulata Ortega [= Jatropha dioica Sessé].
Loureira Cav., Icon. 5 (1799) 17. ― Lectotype (designated by Dehgan & Webster 1979: 47): Loureira glandulifera Cav. [= Mozinna cordata Ortega = Jatropha cordata (Ortega) Müll.Arg.].
Adenoropium Pohl, Pl. Bras. Icon. Descr. 1 (1827) 12. ― Jatropha L. Section Adenorhopium (Pohl) Griseb., Fl. Brit. W. I. (1859) 36; Müll.Arg. in DC., Prodr. 15, 2 (1866) 1082; Benth. in Benth. & Hook.f., Gen. Pl. 3 (1880) 291. ― Lectotype (designated by Dehgan & Webster 1979: 39): Adenoropium gossypiifolium (L.) Pohl [= Jatropha gossypiifolia L.].
Zimapania Engl. & Pax in Engl. & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. 3, 5 (1891) 119. ― Type Zimapania schiedeana Engl. & Pax [= Jatropha dioica Sessé].
Collenucia Chiov., Fl. Somala 1 (1929) 177. ― Type: Collenucia paradoxa Chiov. [= Jatropha paradoxa (Chiov.) Chiov.].
(Description based on Malesian species only) Large herbs to shrubs to treelets, monoecious, protogynous; taproot thick, long. Indumentum absent, of simple hairs or glandular. Stipules distinct or not, simple or split multiple times. Leaves simple, alternate, eglandular except sometimes for hairs; petioles not pulvinate; blades often palmately lobed to -partite with lobed segments, margin entire to undulate to finely serrate, with simple and glandular hairs on tips when serrate; venation at least basally palmate, bronchidodromous, anastomosing, veinlets reticulate. Inflorescences usually terminal, cymose, often corymbiform, with a pistillate flower ending every primary branch, more lateral flowers staminate; bracts elliptic or triangular, sometimes narrow, margin entire to serrate, becoming smaller upwards. Flowers unisexual, 5-merous, actinomorphic; sepals 5, often basally united, imbricate; petals 5, free or adnate, contort, glabrous, but in some species (partly) hairy inside; disc glands 5, alternating with the petals. Staminate flowers: sepal margin serrate to entire; petal margin entire; stamens 8 or 10 in two whorls, outer 5, inner 5 or 3, filaments free or partly united (especially inner whorl) in an androphore, anthers (narrowly) elliptical to triangular, (dorsi)basifixed, opening latrorse to extrorse via lengthwise slits, 2-thecate, these basally hardly to distinctly divaricate; pistillode absent. Pistillate flowers: sepals, petals and disc glands like in staminate flower, ovary (2)3(4)-locular, with a single ovule per locule; style short, stigmas 3, often resembling anthers and usually divided into a narrow unreceptive part (filament-like) and a receptive, almost completely split, broadened and thickened part (anther-like). Fruits globular to ellipsoid, capsular, slightly 3-lobed, dehiscing either only septicidally, only loculicidally or completely septicidally and partly loculicidally; wall thin, at most c. 1 mm thick. Seeds glabrous; caruncle 2- to multifid.
Distribution ― According to Govaerts et al. (2000) a genus of c. 190 species in the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas (incl. Caribbean), Africa (incl. Madagascar) up to India. Several species are introduced throughout the tropics worldwide, five species cultivated in Malesia, often escaping and possibly invasive.
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1a. |
Branches, petioles and leaf blades with branching and unbranched glandular hairs |
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1b. |
Branches, petioles and leaf blades without glandular hairs |
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2a. |
Leaf blade peltate |
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2b. |
Leaf not peltate, petiole basally attached to blade |
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3a. |
Petiole hairy (use magnification); blades not lobed or with small, short basal lobes |
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3b. |
Petiole glabrous; blades 3–13-lobed |
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4a. |
Stipules very early caducous, broadly ovate, entire, densely hairy. Leaves 3- or 5(7)-palmatilobed lobes joined up to halfway |
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4b. |
Stipules persistent, dissected into many flagelliform, glabrous filaments. Leaves (6–)9–11(–13)-palmatifid, lobes only basally joined |
Jatropha curcas L., Sp. Pl. 2 (1753) 1006; Blanco, Fl. Filip. (1837) 759; Fl. Filip. ed. 2 (1845) 522; Miq., Fl. Ned. Ind. 1, 2 (1859) 392; Müll.Arg. in DC., Prodr. 15, 2 (1866) 1080; Kurz, Forest Fl. Burma 2 (1877) 403; Blanco, Fl. Filip. ed. 3, 3 (1879) 160, t. 384; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 5 (1887) 383; Thell., Bull. Herb. Boiss. 2nd ser., 8 (1908) 784; Pax in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV.147(.i) (1910) 77, Fig. 30; Merr., Interpr. Herb. Amboin. (1917) 324; Sp. Blancoan. (1918) 229; Enum. Philipp. Fl. Pl. 2 (1923) 449; Gagnep. in Lecomte, Fl. Indo-Chine 5 (1926) 324; McVaugh, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 72 (1945) 283, fig. 7, 8, 23; Corner, Ways. Tr. Malaya 2nd ed., 1 (1951) 259, pl. 59; Backer & Bakh.f., Fl. Java 1 (1963) 494; Airy Shaw, Kew Bull. 26 (1972) 283; Kew Bull., Addit. Ser. 4 (1975) 137; Airy Shaw, Kew Bull. 37 (1982) 25; Mabb., Taxon 32 (1983) 32; Taxon 33 (1984) 442; Radcl.-Sm., Fl. Trop. E. Afr. Euph. 1 (1987) 356; Grierson & D.G.Long, Fl. Bhutan 1 (1987) 790; Philcox in Dassan., Fl. Ceyl. 11 (1997) 85;Chantharaprasong & Welzen in Welzen & Chayam., Fl. Thailand 8, 2 (2007) 344, Fig. 11A; Li Bingtao & M.G.Gilbert in Wu Zhengyi & P.H.Raven, Fl. China 11 (2008) 268; Fern.Casas, Adumbrationes 73 (2016) 5, fig. 1-4, map 1; Welzen, F.S.T.Sweet & Fern.Casas, Blumea 62 (2017) 61, Figs. 1a, 2, map 2. ― Manihot curcas (L.) Crantz, Inst. Rei Herb. 1 (1766) 167 ― Jatropha acerifolia Salisb., Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton (1796) 389, nom. superfl. ― Castiglionia lobata Ruiz & Pav., Syst. Veg. Fl. Peruv. Chil. (1798) 277, nom. superfl. ― Curcas adansonii Endl. ex Heynh., Nom. Bot. Hort. 2 (1846) 176 (see also Mabb., Taxon 33, 1984: 435). ― Curcas indica A.Rich. in Sagra, Hist. Phys. Cuba part 2, 11, Bot. (1850) 208, pro nom. nov., nom. superfl. ― Curcas curcas (L.) Britton & Millsp., Bahama Fl. (1920) 225, nom. inval. ― Curcas lobata (Ruiz & Pav.) Splitg. ex Lanj., Euphorb. Surinam (1931) 154, nom. superfl., comb. inval., in synon. ― Lectotype (designated by Radcliffe-Smith 1987): Linnaeus, Hort. cliff. (1737, published 1738) 445: Jatropha no. 3, Surinama, Jamaica, Brasilia. (Representative specimen in BM: http://data.nhm.ac.uk/dataset/collection-specimens/resource/05ff2255-c38a-40c9-b657-4ccb55ab2feb/record/1565052).
Ricinus americanus [Rumph., Herb. Amb. 4 (1743) 95, nom. inval.;] Mill., Gard. Dict., ed. 8 (1768) under Ricinus ― Type: Not indicated (See Thellung 1908: 784 for synonymy).
Ricinoides americana Garsault, [Fig. Pl. Méd. 1 (1764) t. 67, nom. nud.;] Descr. Vertus Pl. (1767) 51. ― Type: Not indicated.
Curcas purgans Medik., Malvenfam. (1787) 119. ― Type: not indicated.
Jatropha edulis Sessé in Cerv., Gaz. Lit. México, Supl. (1794) 3. ― Type: M. Sessé Lacasta, J.M. Mocińo, J.D. del Castillo & J.M. Maldonado 4233 (holo MA; iso F, US), Mexico.
Ricinus jarak Thunb., Fl. Jav. (1825) 23. ― Type: not indicated.
[Curcas drastica Mart. in Schrank & Mart., Hort. Reg. Monac. (1829) 50, nom. nud.] See Mabberley (1984) for synonymy.
[Jatropha moluccana Wall. (non L.), Numer. List (1847) nr. 7799E, nom. nud.]
[Jatropha condor Wall., Numer. List (1847) nr. 7799F, nom. nud.]
Jatropha tuberosa Elliot, Fl. Andhirica (1859) 85. ― Type: not indicated, grown in a garden. See Mabberley (1983) for synonymy.
Jatropha afrocurcas Pax, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 43 (1909) 83; in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV.147(.i) (1910) 79. ― Type: P. Jaeger 342 (B?, †), Deutsch-Ostafrika (Tanzania), Sseke.
Jatropha yucatanensis Briquet, Annuaire Conserv. Jard. Bot. Genčve 4 (1900) 230; Pax in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV.147(.i) (1910) 77. ― Type: Linden s.n., 1840 (holo G; iso F), Mexico, Yucatan.
Shrubs to treelets, up to 7 m high, stem up to 15(–28) cm diam, many-branched; flowering twigs 4–15 mm diam, ridged when dried, snapping easily, epidermis easily peeling, tan-coloured. Outer bark greyish green to grey, very rough; under bark green; inner bark light greenish cream to straw; exudate (whitish) pale translucent, watery to somewhat sticky sap; sapwood pink, white later; heartwood pulpy. Indumentum of simple, long villous or arachnoid hairs on various parts. Stipules very indistinct, extremely early caducous, broadly ovate, c. 1 by 1.5 mm, densely villous hairy. Leaves: petiole 6.5–23 cm long, diam 0.5–5 mm, basally slightly thickened and triangular, above flat or glabrous to somewhat hairy; blade ovate to 3- or 5(7)-palmatilobed, widest ± in middle, 7–17 by 6–16.5 cm, 0.7–1.5 times longer than wide, glossy, smooth, base emarginate to cordate, margin entire, often somewhat undulate, somewhat revolute, apex of central lobe acute to acuminate; lobes short, at most till half of leaf blade, ± triangular; upper surface dull to shiny dark green, usually glabrous, sometimes hairs along veins when young, leaving white dots as scars, lower surface dull light green, glabrous to more hairy than upper surface; venation palmate, 7 veins originating from base, basal two weakest developed, up to c. 7 veins along midrib, higher order veins reticulate. Inflorescences axillary compound cymes, often several per node, erecto-patent to patent, green, flowers at end of main axes pistillate, others staminate; peduncle 3.5–4.5 cm long, c. 1 mm wide; rachis 5–20 mm long, (sub)glabrous to villous to arachnoid; bracts elliptic, basal one up to 13 by 1.3 mm, becoming smaller towards top of inflorescence, margin entire, apex acute, (sub)glabrous to villous to arachnoid on both sides. Flowers cup-shaped, pale green to yellow to white, fragrant; pedicels up to 9 mm long, (sub)glabrous to villous to arachnoid, with an abscission zone, often subapical; calyx lobes basally connate, outside (sub)glabrous to hairy, inside glabrous; petals with margin entire, apex emarginate, outside glabrous, inside villous. Staminate flowers c. 9 mm diam; sepals ovate to elliptic-oblong, 4–5 by 2–3 mm, margin entire, apex obtuse to acute; petals obovate-oblong, 7–8 by 2.5–3 mm, apex rounded; disc lobes vertically tongue-like, 1–1.2 by 0.4–0.5 mm, glabrous; stamens 10, outer 5 almost free or adnate to inner united 5, androphore up to 5 mm long, light green, free filaments up to 4 mm long, light green, anthers narrowly triangular, 1.6–1.7 by c. 0.5 mm, basally cleft, basifixed, extrorse opening with length slits, light yellow. Pistillate flowers c. 6 mm diam; calyx lobes ovate, 3.2–5 by 1.5–2.5 mm, margin entire, apex acute; petals long ovate, 6.2–7 by 2–3 mm, apex rounded; disc glands obtrapezoid, 0.9–1 by 0.8–1 mm; ovary ovoid, 2–3 by 1.7–2 mm, light green; style c. 0.5 mm long, green; stigmas green, filament-like, non-receptive part c. 0.5 mm long, anther-like, receptive part basi-dorsifixed, c. 1 mm long, apically split till halfway. Fruits long-ovoid, 2.3–3 by 1.8–2.5 cm, 6-grooved, surface rugged, glabrous, yellow when ripe, black when dried; wall up to 1 mm thick, opening loculicidally only; columella T-shaped, up to 2.2 cm long. Seeds ellipsoid but somewhat flattened dorso-ventrally, with a slight sharp ridge on the inside, 16–19 by 10–12 by 8.5–9.5 mm, when dry dark wall bursting with small white dot- to stripe-like, mainly transverse openings; caruncle vestigial or poorly developed in a fold over the hilum.
Distribution ― Central and South America, Caribbean, widely introduced in Malesia.
Habitat & Ecology ― A culture follower, found near villages, on and along roads, in cultivated areas and grounds, in gardens, at landfills, near rivers in the shade, secondary/open grassland, open plains, in and around primary, disturbed and secondary forest, near the coast and on limestone hills; soil often sandy, clay-loam, loam, river beds with gravel and sand; once reported from rhyolite bedrock. Altitude: sea-level up to 800(–1200) m. Flowering and fruiting: throughout the year.
Vernacular names ― Malay Peninsula (Corner 1951): Jarak, Jarak belanda, Jarak pagar (Malay). Sumatra: Djarak, Djira. Java: Jarak pagar (Malay). Borneo: Jarak (Malay); Tangan-tangan (Brunei); Brunei: Jarigan-tangan. Philippines (mainly after Merrill 1923): Galúmbang (Pampángan); Kásla (Bisáya); Kirisól, Taba-tabá, Tańgan-tańgan-túba, Túbang-bakód (Tagálog); Tuban miyalad (Ifugao); Tuban bakod (Tagbanua); Tubang bakod (Tagkawayan); Tagumbáu, Tagumbau-na-puráu, Tauuá (Ilóko); Takumbau (Sambáli); Taua-tauá (Igorot, Ilóko), Túba (Bíkol, Igorot, Tagálog). Sulawesi: Jarah. Moluccas: Kadatao (Halmahera Island); Kai doean (Seram Island). Purgeernoot (Dutch); Physic nut (English).
Traditional Uses (partly after Burkill, 1935, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula 2: 1267-1271; Heyne, 1950, De Nutttige Planten van Indonesië 1: 936-938) ― Traditionally, J. curcas has many uses. The complete plant and almost every part of the plant has been found useful. The shrub is often an ornamental, usually used as hedges, but also as firewood. It is also planted to reforested hills and seasides, and in one part of Africa it is planted on graves. The bark is applied to snake-bites and bites of other animals as an antidote. The stem juice has piscicidal properties and is used to kill or stupefy fish. The juice is also used for the production of blue and red dye and medicinally it is applied against sprue (Malaysia, Perak), dropped in wounds and even used by children to blow bubbles. The leaves are applied to wounds, are used to get rid of itches, and can be applied to bruises after being cooked. Also, rubbing them on the abdomen of children stimulates the intestines and a decoction of the leaves forms a cure for diarrhea, a remedy for coughs and a lotion for eczema and ulcers. While the mature leaves are toxic in larger quantities, the young leaves are sometimes eaten or used as flavouring in cooking. The seeds are used as a medicinal purgative and mashed they are applied to wounds as a styptic. In Guam (Marianas) the seeds are eaten in small quantities. In the USA they are also used for criminal poisoning. The seeds, when a wick is applied, are burned as lamps, just as the pressed oil, the latter is also used in soap production and can be used in wool spinning. It is said that rubbing the seed oil on your scalp stimulates hair growth, and energetic rubbing of the oil on a female abdomen will produce abortion. Philippines labels indicate that the plant (not which part) is used as a pain reliever and for fractures.
Modern Uses and Possible Future Uses (after Pandey et al., 2012, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 16 : 2870–2883). ― Jatropha curcas has recently caught wide attention as a biofuel plant. This is because the seeds have an oil content of around 30–40%, the plant can grow on wasteland and marginal land unsuitable for food crops and is not a food crop itself. Also important is that the Jatropha bio-diesel is as good as petro-diesel. The fruit-hulls that are left can be used as bioactive compost. The cultivation for bio-diesel produces a seed cake as a by-product. This seed cake can be used as manure, but can also be used for biogas production through anaerobic digestion. The cultivation of J. curcas also has environmental benefits. It is a potential phytoremediator for polluted soil and a sequester of atmospheric carbon (to store it in the soil). It can also help to control soil erosion because it develops a deep taproot that can stabilize the soil. Also, new medical uses for J. curcas, which range from HIV- and tumor-suppressing properties of the water extract of the branches, to using the leaves against syphilis, have been found. The downside is that the species often escapes cultivation and can become an invasive species. In Malesia specimens are collected on all major islands, but there are no reports of negative aspects of invasiveness.
Jatropha gossypiifolia L., Sp. Pl. 2 (1753) 1006 (‘gossypifolia’); Müll.Arg. in DC., Prodr. 15, 2 (1866) 1086; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 5 (1887) 383 (‘gossypifolia’); Pax in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV.147(.i) (1910) 26; Merr., Enum. Philipp. Fl. Pl. 2 (1923) 449; Gagnep. in Lecomte, Fl. Indo-Chine 5 (1926) 326; McVaugh, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 72 (1945) 281, fig. 13, 18; Corner, Ways. Tr. Malaya 2nd ed., 1 (1951) 260, text-fig. 83; Backer & Bakh.f., Fl. Java 1 (1963) 494; Airy Shaw, Kew Bull. 26 (1972) 283; Kew Bull., Addit. Ser. 4 (1975) 137; Kew Bull. 37 (1982) 25; Radcl.-Sm., Fl. Trop. E. Afr. Euph. 1 (1987) 354; Philcox in Dassan., Fl. Ceyl. 11 (1997) 83; Chantharaprasong & Welzen in Welzen & Chayam., Fl. Thailand 8, 2 (2007) 346, Fig. 11E–L; Fern.Casas, Adumbrationes 73 (2016) 18, fig. 5-8, map 2; Welzen, F.S.T.Sweet & Fern.Casas, Blumea 62 (2017) 63, figs. 1e–l, 3, map 2. ― Manihot gossypiifolia (L.) Crantz, Inst. Rei Herb. 1 (1766) 167 (‘gossypifolia’). ― Adenoropium gossypiifolium (L.) Pohl, Pl. Bras. Icon Descr. 1 (1827) 16 (‘gossypifolium’). ― Conserved type (Wiersema et al., Regnum Vegetabile 157, 2015: 395): Linnean Herbarium no. 1141.1 (LINN).
Jatropha staphysagriifolia Mill., Gard. Dict. ed. 8 (1768) under Jatropha, no. 9 (‘staphysagrifolia’). ― Jatropha gossypiifolia L. var. staphysagriifolia (Mill.) Müll.Arg. in DC., Prodr. 15, 2 (1866) 1087 (‘staphysagriaefolia’), nom. illeg. (autonym rule). ― Type: Not indicated.
Adenoropium jacquinii Pohl, Pl. Bras. Icon Descr. 1 (1827) 15. ― Jatropha jacquinii (Pohl) Baill., Adansonia 4 (1864) 268. ― Type: Not indicated.
Adenoropium elegans Pohl, Pl. Bras. Icon. Descr. 1 (1827) 15. ― Jatropha elegans (Pohl) Klotzsch in Seem., Bot. Voy. Herald (1853) 102. ― Jatropha gossypiifolia L. var. elegans (Pohl) Müll.Arg. in DC., Prodr. 15, 2 (1866) 1087; Pax in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV.147(.i) (1910) 26; Backer & Bakh.f., Fl. Java 1 (1963) 494; Philcox in Dassan., Fl. Ceyl. 11 (1997) 83. ― Type: Von Martius s.n. (holo M; iso L, barcode L 0034540), Brasilia, Villam dos Ilhéos, Capitaniae Bahiae.
Jatropha glandulifera auct. non Roxb.: Kurz, Forest Fl. Burma 2 (1877) 403.
See www.ipni.org or www.theplantlist.org for more infraspecific names synonymous with var. gossypiifolia.
(Herbs to) shrubs to treelets, at least up to 5 m high, up to 12 cm diam, branching, succulent; flowering branches 1.5–8 mm diam, round, with branching glandular hairs, especially when young, often dark maroon. Outer bark thin, finely pustular-lenticellate to smooth, grey; sap thin, greyish or whitish. Indumentum of simple, white, long hirsute hairs and branching glandular trichomes with elongated heads and non-branching glandular mushroom-shaped trichomes, glandular hairs with dark maroon stalk and yellow head. Stipules dissected and appearing as a band of branching glandular trichomes (a similar band is also present with bracts). Leaves: petiole 2–15.5 cm long, 1–2 mm diam, basally thickened, round but above flat to grooved, upper surface with hirsute hairs and along ridges branched glandular hairs, maroon; blade ovate, 3–5-palmatifid, 2–12.5 by 2.5–16 cm, 0.6–0.9 times as long as wide, base rounded to slightly emarginate, margin subentire to finely, shallowly serrate, teeth ending in unbranched glandular trichomes, ciliate with hirsute hairs, apex of central lobe obtuse to acuminate, lobes usually obovate, basally united, surfaces often showing with small glands (hydatodes?), upper surface glossy dark green to brownish, often, especially when young, with hirsute hairs along major veins, lower surface light green to completely red when young, glabrous; venation palmate, with 7 basal veins of which central 3 or 5 more developed, nerves in central lobe 8–14 pairs, anastomosing and looped near margin except for basal one which ends in sinus between lobes. Inflorescences compound subterminal cymes, erect to erecto-patent, up to 16.5 cm long, laxly hirsute, green to maroon; peduncle 2.5–20 cm long, 1–3 mm wide; rachis 0.9–7 cm long; cymes with central flowers pistillate, staminate flowers along branches; bracts elliptic, basal ones 10–19 by 2–4 mm, indument and basal structures like leaves and stipules, respectively. Flowers cup-shaped; pedicel 2–10 mm long, with simple hairs, subapical abscission zone; sepals free, ovate to elliptic to obovate, green to maroon, margin serrate with simple hairs and teeth ending in a glandular hair, apex cuspidate; petals obovate, apex rounded, maroon with light green to yellow basal part. Staminate flowers c. 6 mm diam; sepals c. 4 by 1.2 mm; petals c. 4.5 by 2.5 mm; disc lobes obtrapezoid, convex, c. 0.5 by 0.5 mm; stamens 8, 5 in outer whorl, 3 united in inner whorl, outer almost free, with free filament part c. 1.2 mm long, yellow-red, androphore c. 2.5 mm long, light green, anthers triangular, 0.5–0.6 by 0.5–0.6 mm, orange-red, especially inner ones basally divaricating, dorsibasifixed, latrorse opening. Pistillate flowers 4.5–6 mm diam; sepals 4.5–6 by 2–2.5 mm; petals c. 5 by 3 mm, caducous; disc lobes ± rectangular, c. 1 by 0.5 mm, thick; ovary ovoid 1.5–3 by 1.3–3 mm, 6-ribbed, green, few hairs, style absent to very short, c. 0.1 mm long; stigmas light green, with unreceptive lower part c. 1 mm long, apically receptive part thickened, split, u-shaped, 0.6–0.8 mm long. Fruits oblong, slightly 3-lobed, 8–12 by 7–11.5 mm, pendant, sparingly hirsute to subglabrous, dehiscing completely septicidally and partly loculicidally, shiny green when immature; wall c. 0.5 mm thick; columella 6.3–8.5 mm long, narrowly T-shaped, very slender. Seeds somewhat dorsoventrally compressed-ellipsoid, 8–8.5 by 4.5–5 by 3–4 mm; caruncle multifid, exceeding the seed apex.
Distribution ― Mexico to N South America and Caribbean Islands, introduced and established throughout Malesia.
Habitat & Ecology ― Wet areas like swamps, coast, littoral and sublittoral, gradually sloping reef flats, and damaged mangrove ecotone, but also secondary forest, lowland savannah, grassy plains, wasteland, road sides, usually open areas in general. Soil: sandy loam, (white-)sand, loam, clay, rocky clay loam, often siltish; bedrock: granite, limestone. Altitude: sea-level up to 750 m. Flowering and fruiting: throughout the year.
Vernacular names ― Malay Peninsula (mainly after Corner 1951): Jarak, Jarak beremah, Jarak hitam, Jarak kling, Jarak merah (Malay). Java: Djarak, Djarak kosta, Djarak tjina. Philippines (mainly after Merrill 1923): Balautandoiong, Tagumbau-a-nalabága, Taua-tauá (Ilóko); Bongalon (Tagbanua); Lansi-lanináan (Tagálog); Túba-sa-buáia (Bíkol); Tuba-túba (Panay Bisáya, Cebu Bisáya). Lesser Sunda Islands: Flores: Waru-wégé (Takatunga, Ngadha); Timor: Damar merah; Pauk op na (Dawan); Alor: Arangfai, Iwang bawiw, Train kenanagar. Cotton-leaved physic-nut (English).
Uses (after Burkill, 1935, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula 2: 1267-1271; Heyne, 1950, De Nutttige Planten van Indonesië 1: 936-938) ― Ornamental plant, planted in hedges. Medicinally used against diarrhea. A swallowing of a decoction of 7–21 leaves works as a remedy for dry belly-ache. Seeds are used criminally as a poison, but also as a purgative; seed oil used as lamp oil, useful in treating leprosy.
Note ― If a subdivision of this somewhat variable species is desirable, then the specimens in Malesia are generally regarded as belonging to var. elegans.
Jatropha integerrima Jacq., Enum. Syst. Pl. (1760) 32; Sel. stirp. pl. Amer. (1763) 256, tab. 183, fig. 47; Pax in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV.147(.i) (1910) 50; McVaugh, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 72 (1945) 274, fig. 5, 6, 12, 16, 21, 22; Airy Shaw, Kew Bull. 26 (1972) 284; Kew Bull. 37 (1982) 25; Radcl.-Sm., Fl. Trop. E. Afr. Euph. 1 (1987) 353; Chantharaprasong & Welzen in Welzen & Chayam., Fl. Thailand 8, 2 (2007) 347, Fig. 11B, plate XIX-2; Fern.Casas, Adumbrationes 73 (2016) 28, fig. 9-13, map 3; Welzen, F.S.T.Sweet & Fern.Casas, Blumea 62 (2017) 65, figs. 1b, 4, map 3. ― Adenoropium integerrimum (Jacq.) Pohl, Pl. Bras. Icon. Descr. 1 (1827) 14. ― Jatropha diversifolia A.Rich. in Sagra, Hist. Phys. Cuba part 2, 11, Bot. (1850) 207, nom. superfl. (all mentioned synonyms are older available epithets, lectotypified here with J. integerrima); Müll.Arg. in DC., Prodr. 15,2 (1866) 1094. ― Type: Not indicated.
Jatropha hastata Jacq., Enum. Syst. Pl. (1760) 32; Sel. Stirp. Pl. Amer. (1763) 256, t. 173 Fig. 54; Pax in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV.147(.i) (1910) 51; Backer & Bakh.f., Fl. Java 1 (1963) 494. ― Adenoropium hastatum (Jacq.) Britton & P.Wilson, Sc. Surv. Porto Rico Virgin Isl. 5 (1924) 485. ― Jatropha integerrima Jacq. var. hastata (Jacq.) Fosberg, Rhodora 78 (1976) 102. ― Lectotype (designated by Welzen et al. 2017): Jacquin s.n. (BM).
Jatropha acuminata Desr. in Lam., Encycl. 4 (1797) 8; Vent., Jard. Malmaison 1 (1803) tab. 52. ― Type: Herb. de Jussieu s.n. (holo P-JU; IDC microfiche 6206, box 31, fiche 1194, no. 20), Saint Domingue (San Domingo).
Jatropha pandurifolia Andrews, Bot. Repos. 4 (1802) t. 267 (‘panduraefolia’); Pax in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV.147(.i) (1910) 49; Gagnep. in Lecomte, Fl. Indo-Chine 5 (1926) 326. ― Adenoropium pandurifolium (Andrews) Pohl, Pl. Bras. Icon Descr. 1 (1827) 14. ― Jatropha diversifolia A.Rich. var. pandurifolia (Andrews) M.Gómez, Anales Soc. Esp. Hist. Nat. 23 (1894) 51. ― Type: Andrews (1802) t. 267.
Jatropha coccinea Link, Enum. Hort. Berol. Alt. 2 (1822) 406. ― Adenoropium coccinea (Link) Steudel, Nomencl. Bot., ed. 2, 1 (1840) 799, in synonymy (‘coccineum’). ― Jatropha pandurifolia Andrews var. coccinea (Link) Pax in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV.147(.i) (1910) 50, Fig. 19b.― Jatropha integerrima Jacq. var. coccinea (Link) N.P.Balakr., Bull. Bot. Soc. India 22 (1980, publ. 1982) 176. ― Type: Not indicated? “Hort. Cels.” (= Garden of J.M. Cels, see Ventenat 1800).
Jatropha pauciflora C.Wright ex Griseb., Nachtr. Königl. Ges. Wiss. Georg-Augusts-Univ. 7 (1865) 170; Müll.Arg. in DC., Prodr. 15, 2 (1866) 1095; Pax in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV.147(.i) (1910) 51. ― Jatropha diversifolia A.Rich. var. pauciflora (C.Wright ex Griseb.) M.Gómez, Anales Soc. Esp. Hist. Nat. 23 (1894) 51. ― Type: C. Wright 1954 (holo GOET; iso BM, BREM s.n., G-DC, GH, HAC[3], K, MO, NY, P, US [2x], YU), Cuba.
Jatropha moluensis Sessé & Moc., Fl. Mexic., ed. 2 (1894) 224. ― Type: Not indicated (MA?, n.v.), [Cuba,] Havana.
Jatropha pandurifolia Andrews var. latifolia Pax in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV.147(.i) (1910) 50, Fig. 19a. ― Jatropha integerrima Jacq. var. latifolia (Pax) N.P.Balakr., Bull. Bot. Surv. India 22 (1980, publ. 1982) 176. ― Lectotype (designated by Welzen et al. 2017): Pr. de la Sagra 595 (W, holo), Cuba, cultivated in gardens in Havana.
Jatropha glaucovirens Pax in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV.147(.i) (1910) 51. ― Type: A.H. Curtiss 458 (holo: B?, lost; iso A, BM, G [2x], GH, HAC, K, L, M), [Cuba,] Isla de Pinos, Nueva Gerona.
Shrubs to treelets, at least up to 8 m high, stem up to 10 cm diam, somewhat succulent; flowering branches 2–3 mm diam, hairy, glabrescent. Outer bark dark grey, fairly smooth; exudate white (one label). Indumentum of simple, pilose hairs, present on most parts. Stipules triangular, 1.3–1.5 by 0.5–0.7 mm, caducous, often with basal lobe, latter sometimes separate. Leaves: petiole 0.8–7.5 cm long, diam c. 1 mm, round in transverse section, but flat to slightly grooved above, especially hairy above, basally thickened, light green; lamina ovate to most often obovate, 5.2–12 by 3.4–7.5 cm, 1.3–2.6 times longer than wide, papyraceous, basally rounded to somewhat emarginate, often with two glandular extensions, margin entire except basally several triangular mini-lobes ending in a gland, apex acuminate to cuspate, above dark green above, usually hairy on venation, dull green below, glabrous; venation basally 7-palmate, but midrib and next two veins strongest, latter ending over blade half, more terminally pinnate with 5–12 veins per side. Inflorescences compound dichasia with central flower(s) pistillate, erect, subterminal, up to 15 cm long; peduncle 4.5–12.7cm long, diam c. 1.5 mm; basal bract elliptic, up to 8 by 1 mm, with stipule-like basal extensions, upper bracts usually triangular, c. 3 by 1 mm, becoming smaller upwards, margin serrate with gland on top of the teeth, apex acute. Flowers: pedicels 5–8 mm long, apically (and often also basally) an abscission zone; calyx lobes basally connate, lobes triangular to ovate, basally green, rest dark red, glabrous; petals free, obovate, dark red. Staminate flowers c. 16 mm diam., lobes ovate, 2–3 by 1.5–2 mm, margin entire, apex round; petals 9–24 by 5–10 mm, curved backwards, apex slightly emarginate to round, basally hairy inside, rest glabrous; disc lobes ± square, c. 0.5 by 0.5 mm; stamens 10, in 2 whorls of 5, glabrous, androphore 4.5–5 mm long; free part of filaments 2.3–4 mm long, anthers narrowly triangular, 2–2.5 by c. 0.7 mm, basally slightly divaricate, dorsibasifixed, opening latrorse, connective with appendix. Pistillate flowers c. 20 mm diam: lobes 1.5–3.7 by 1.1–2 mm, margin (entire to) serrate with glands, apex acute; petals 10–13 by 5–6 mm, apex emarginate to rounded, glabrous; disc lobes rectangular, c. 1 by 0.5 mm; ovary ellipsoid, 2.5–5 by 2–3 mm, glabrous, green, style 0.8–1 mm long; stigmas 4.2–5 mm long, red, bifid in upper 2.4–2.5 mm, flattened and in some broadened. Fruits oblong, c. 1 by 1 cm, dehiscing septicidally, smooth, green; wall c. 1 mm thick; columella T-shaped, c. 9 mm long. Seeds ellipsoid, c. 8 by 3 mm.
Distribution ― Caribbean Islands (Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti), introduced in Malesia (Java, Philippines, Celebes).
Habitat & Ecology ― Secondary forest, along trail in lowland mixed forest; soil: brownish clay, clay-loam. Altitude: sea-level to 4 m. Flowering: January, February, April, May, August, December.
Uses ― Ornamental because of relative large orange-red flowers in red inflorescences.
Note ― This species is very variable in the shape of the leaf blade. The form most encountered is obovate to somewhat panduriform, but in the Philippines the blades are ovate.
Jatropha multifida L., Sp. Pl. 2 (1753) 1006; Miq., Fl. Ned. Ind. 1, 2 (1859) 392; Müll.Arg. in DC., Prodr. 15, 2 (1866) 1089; Kurz, Forest Fl. Burma 2 (1877) 403; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 5 (1887) 383; Pax in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV.147(.i) (1910) 40, Fig. 13; Merr., Enum. Philipp. Fl. Pl. 2 (1923) 449; Gagnep. in Lecomte, Fl. Indo-Chine 5 (1926) 325; McVaugh, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 72 (1945) 277; Backer & Bakh.f., Fl. Java 1 (1963) 494; Airy Shaw, Kew Bull. 26 (1972) 284; Radcl.-Sm., Fl. Trop. E. Afr. Euph. 1 (1987) 354; Grierson & D.G.Long, Fl. Bhutan 1 (1987) 790; Chantharaprasong & Welzen in Welzen & Chayam., Fl. Thailand 8, 2 (2007) 347, Fig. 11C; Li Bingtao & M.G.Gilbert in Wu Zhengyi & P.H.Raven, Fl. China 11 (2008) 269; Fern.Casas, Adumbrationes 73 (2016) 37, fig. 14-17, map 4; Welzen, F.S.T.Sweet & Fern.Casas, Blumea 62 (2017) 67, Fig. 1c, 5, 6, map 4. ― Manihot multifida (L.) Crantz, Inst. Rei Herb. 1 (1766) 167. ― Adenoropium multifidum (L.) Pohl, Pl. Bras. Icon Descr. 1 (1827) 16. ― Lectotype (designated by Radcliffe-Smith 1987): Tab. 173 (F. 213), opposite p. 218 in Dillenius, Hortus Elthamensis (1732), America meridionali (S America).
Jatropha janipha Blanco (non L., non Lour.), Fl. Filip. (1837) 758; Fl. Filip., ed. 2 (1845) 521; Fl. Filip. ed. 3, 3 (1879) 159, t. 342; Merr., Sp. Blancoan. (1918) 229. ― Neotype (designated by Welzen et al. 2017, after Merrill 1918): Merrill Species Blancoanae 625 (holo L), Philippines, Luzon, Manila.
Shrubs, at least up to 2.5 m tall, branches somewhat succulent; flowering branches 5–9 mm diam. Outer bark greyish with green-brown lenticels. Indumentum absent. Stipules dissected in many flagelliform parts of 15–20 by 0.1–0.2 mm. Leaves palmatisect; petiole 4–27 cm long, 1–5 mm diam, round but flattened to somewhat grooved above, basally thickened;blade almost circular in circumference, 14–34 by 12–30 cm, base cordate; lobes (6–)9–11(–13), elliptic, 4.5–17 by 0.7–8 cm, margin entire but with 1 or more small, triangular, alternate side-lobes, slightly constricted above side-nodes, apex gradually acute; palmately nerved, with along midrib up to 21 pairs of nerves. Inflorescences subterminal, cymose, corymbiform, erect, up to 30 cm long; peduncle up to 26 cm long, 2–3 mm wide; rachis 4–21 mm long; central flower pistillate, others staminate; bracts narrowly triangular, 2–4 by 0.5–1 mm, often folded lengthwise, margin usually with a few side-lobe-like initiations, apex acuminate, upwards becoming smaller. Flowers c. 6 mm diam, all parts red or orange; pedicels 3–7 mm long; calyx c. 3 mm wide and long, margin entire; petals obovate, contort, apex emarginate to obtuse. Staminate flowers: calyx lobes c. 1 by 1–1.2 mm, apex emarginate to rounded; petals 4–5.8 by 2.5–3 mm; disc glands ±square, c. 0.4 by 0.4 mm; stamens 8, 5 in outer and 3 in inner whorl, free, filaments 2.5–3 mm long, anthers with parallel thecae, 2–2.5 by 0.4–0.7 mm, basifixed, opening extrorse. Pistillate flowers: calyx lobes triangular, c. 2 by 1 mm, apex acute; petals c. 4 by 2.5 mm; disc glands present; ovary ovoid, style short to absent, stigmas short and thick. Fruits irregularly shaped, shape dependent on number of developed seeds, c. 3 by 2 cm, containing 1–3 seeds, dehiscence septicidal, yellow; wall c. 0.5 mm thick; columella not seen. Seeds sub-ellipsoid, 17.5–20 by 15–17 by 12–13.5 mm.
Distribution ― S North America, central and N South America, introduced in Malesia (Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Philippines).
Habitat & Ecology ― Hill slopes, cultivated within human settlements. Altitude: up to 700 m. Flowering: March, April, May; fruiting: April.
Vernacular names ― Malay Peninsula: Hubiq (Semelai). Philippines (Merrill 1923): Apio (Visaya); Tubang-amerikáno (Bíkol); Maná (Spanish). Dutch: Koraalboom (coral tree).
Uses (after Burkill, 1935, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula 2: 1267-1271; Heyne, 1950, De Nutttige Planten van Indonesië 1: 936-938) ― Ornamental plant of which the young leaves and tubers can be eaten after roasting; older leaves can act as purgative. Seeds are medicinally used as purgative and criminal poisoning due to cathartic properties; oil used as lamp oil.
Jatropha podagrica Hook., Bot. Mag. (1848) tab. 4376, Müll.Arg. in DC., Prodr. 15, 2 (1866) 1093; Pax in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV.147(.i) (1910) 44; Merr., Enum. Philipp. Fl. Pl. 2 (1923) 450; McVaugh, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 72 (1945) 277; Backer & Bakh.f., Fl. Java 1 (1963) 494; Airy Shaw, Kew Bull. 26 (1972) 284; Radcl.-Sm., Fl. Trop. E. Afr. Euph. 1 (1987) 355; Chantharaprasong & Welzen in Welzen & Chayam., Fl. Thailand 8, 2 (2007) 348, Fig. 11D; Li Bingtao & M.G.Gilbert in Wu Zhengyi & P.H.Raven, Fl. China 11 (2008) 268; Fern.Casas, Adumbrationes 73 (2016) 49, fig. 18-22, map 5; Welzen, F.S.T.Sweet & Fern.Casas, Blumea 62 (2017) 69, figs. 1d, 7, 8, map 4. ― Type (see Radcliffe-Smith 1987): Seemann s.n. (BM, n.v.), Panama, Santa Martha.
Shrubs, up to 70(–150) cm high, not or hardly branching, basal stem very thickened, succulent, flask-like, on top a more slender apical branch (or lower on basal part side-branches); flowering branches c. 1 cm diam. Bark grey and green; watery to slightly white sap. Indumentum absent. Stipules dissected in slip-like lobes of c. 4 mm wide. Leaves: petiole 16.5–35 cm long, c. 0.5 cm diam, round, hollow; blade ovate, c. 15–28 by 17–31 cm, 5-lobed, lobes less than 1/3rd of blade, base 4.5–7.5 cm peltate, margin entire, dark green above, pale light greenish-greyish below; lobes obovate, apices broadly acute to acuminate; venation palmate, slightly raised on top, 7 veins originating from base, nerves 4–10 pairs per lobe. Inflorescences compound cymes, corymbiform; peduncle 34–43 cm long, red, cymes with basally the central flowers pistillate, on the branches the staminate flowers; rachis 3–40 mm high; bracts ovate, 1–3 by 0.8–2 mm, apex acuminate, becoming smaller upwards. Flowers: pedicel with apically an abscission zone; sepals and petals red. Staminate flowers: pedicel 2–5 mm long; calyx lobes 1.4–1.5 by 0.8–1 mm, apex rounded; petals obovate, c. 6.5 by 1.6 mm, margin entire, apex rounded; disc glands thick, ± square, c. 0.3 by 0.3 mm; stamens 8, 5 in outer whorl, 3 in inner whorl, filaments free, c. 4 mm long, anthers with parallel thecae, c. 2.5 by 0.8 mm, basifixed, opening latro-extrorse, pollen orange. Pistillate flowers subsessile; sepals free, triangular, c. 1.5 by 1.5 mm, apex obtuse; petals early caducous, not seen; disc glands like staminate flowers; ovary ellipsoid, c. 5 by 3 mm, style nearly absent; stigmas: unreceptive basal part c.1 mm long, receptive part c. 1.2 mm long, almost completely split, u-shaped. Fruits flattened, depressed globular, c. 11 by 7 mm, glabrous, opening septicidally and partly loculicidally; wall c. 0.3 mm thick; columella c. 10 mm long, apically thickened, not T-shaped. Seeds ellipsoid, c. 9 by 4 mm; caruncle c. 1.5 by 2 mm.
Distribution ― Central America and Caribbean Islands. Introduced in Malesia as ornamental, occurring in the Philippines, naturalized in the Caroline Islands (Koror Island).
Habitat & Ecology ― On the Caroline Islands common in thickets around houses, in the Philippines and Thailand only planted; granite bedrock. Altitude: sea-level up to 350 m. Flowering: February–April, July, August, October; fruiting: February, March, July, August, October.
Use ― Garden ornamental, potential to escape cultivation, not considered a dangerous invasive in the Caroline Islands. Young leaves and tubers can be eaten, but not raw.
