Manihot Manihotoides (Euphorbiaceae) - CNCFlora

Systematic Position of the Genus 145
foliaceus, hirsutae; pistillatus flores portati in longi pedicelli basi inflorescentiarum.
Staminatae gemmae parvae, globosi, pubescens filamenta. Capsulae 1.1 cm longae,
oblongae, sine marmoreae.
Straggling shrubs, to 2.0 m tall. Young stems sparsely pubescent, grayish brown;
mature stems glabrous, grayish brown. Leaves alternate; stipules 0.5 cm long, filiform,
hirsute; petioles short, usually less than 4.0 cm long, terete, pubescent, petiole
attachment to lamina basal, nonpeltate; lamina membranaceous, abaxial surface wax
pattern reticulate; venation camptodromous, rarely craspedodromous, veins hirsute;
lamina 5 lobed, 3 major lobes and 2 basal lobules; median lobes linear, ca 10.0 cm long,
ca 0.5 cm wide, held almost perpendicular to the 2 outer lobes; apex acuminate, base of
lobes 0.5 cm wide, width between base of sinus and petiole-midrib junction 0.4 cm;
lowest lobes attenuate, ca 2.0 cm long, held parallel to the petiole. Inflorescence a
monoecious, terminal, subspicate raceme, ca 4.0 cm long; peduncles and pedicels hirsute;
bracteoles foliaceous, 0.75 cm long, 0.6 cm wide, hirsute, yellowish green with purplish
tinge, margins entire; bractlets foliaceous 0.5 cm long, 0.3 cm wide, hirsute, margins
entire. Pistillate flowers restricted to the base of the inflorescence, borne on ca 2.5 cm
long pedicels; pedicels hirsute; tepal 0.8 cm long, cleft to base into 5 lobes, yellowish
green with purplish pigmenation, hirsute; disc prominent; ovary subglobose, tomentose;
the trifid stigma moderately lobed and lobulate. Staminate buds globular; flowers small,
tepal 0.7 cm long, yellowish green with purplish pigmentation, hirsute, cleft 1/3 way
down into 5 lobes, lobe apex obtuse; disc 10 lobed; stamens 10, in 2 whorls of 5 each, the
superior whorl 0.6 cm long, the inferior whorl 0.5 cm long, filaments pubescent, anthers
bright yellow. Capsules small, 1.1 cm long from base to apex, subglobose, slightly
elongated, surface without prominent wings, hirsute, apex rounded, dehiscence septicidal.
Seeds small, 0.8 cm long, oblong, grayish black without mottlings, caruncle trapeziform,
not prominent. Fig 63B, C.
TYPE. Philcox & Fereira 3868: Brasil, Mato Grosso: Cerrado E of km 242,
Xavantina-Cachimbo road, 4 Jan 1968 (holotype, K; isotype NY).
DISTRIBUTION. (Fig 63A). Brasil, state of Mato Grosso. BRASIL. Mato Grosso: Philcox
& Fereira 4542 (K, NY) 1 km E of km 244, Xavantina-Cachimbo Road, 15 Mar 1968.
Manihot flemingiana, which is well isolated (see Fig. 28, objects 64 and 65) from its
nearest relative (M. hunzikeriana) is distinguished by its foliaceous bracteoles. Manihot
hunzikeriana has setaceous bracteoles. The subspicate raceme of M. flemingiana is much
more compact (ca 3-4 cm long) than is the inflorescence of M. hunzikeriana.
53. Manihot hunzikeriana Martinez-Crovetto, Bonplandia 1(4): 273-277. 1964.
Subshrubs ca 30 cm tall. Stems glabrous. Leaves alternate; stipules persistent, ca 0.5
cm long, setaceous, glabrous; petioles short, usually less than 4.0 cm long, terete,
glabrous, petiole attachment to lamina basal, nonpeltate; lamina membranaceous, abaxial
surface wax pattern smooth; venation frequently craspedodromous, sometimes campto-
dromous, veins glabrous; lamina palmately 5 lobed, rarely with 2 more short lobules;
median lobes linear, frequently with falcate lobules near the base, ca 20.0 cm long, 0.6
cm wide, apex acuminate, base of lobes 0.6 cm wide, width between base of sinus and
petiole-lamina junction ca 2.0 cm; lowest lobes (in case of 5 lobed leaves) 1/2 as long as
median lobes, in case of 7 lobed leaves attenuate and ca 1.0 cm long. Inflorescence
monoecious, terminal, a cluster of long subspicate racemes arising from one basal point,
ca 15.0 cm long, all parts glabrous; bracteoles and bractlets setaceous, less than 1.0 cm
long, less than 0.2 cm wide. Pistillate flowers restricted to the base of the inflorescence,
tepal 0.9 cm long, cleft to base into 5 lobes. Staminate buds ovoid-ellipsoid; flowers
small; tepal 0.8 cm long, cleft 1/3 way down into 5 lobes; stamens 10, in 2 whorls of 5