Manihot Manihotoides (Euphorbiaceae) - CNCFlora

Systematic Position of the Genus 25
rosette; stipules persistent, usually more than 1.0 cm long; inflorescence usually
either pistillate or staminate, rarely of both sexes; pistillate inflorescence determinate,
always 2 flowered. Sect 14. Stipulares (p. 206).
4. Leaves nonlobed or very shallowly lobed, the sinus less than half the length of the
lobes.
26. Leaves subsessile; petioles short, less than 1.0 cm long. Sect 16. Brevipetiolatae (p. 215).
26. Leaves petiolate; petioles long, more than 5.0 cm long. Sect 17. Peltatae (p. 225).
Sectional Relations
Figures 5A and 28A indicate the linear (as contrasted with the multidimensional)
relationships of the sections of the genus Manihot. In addition, Fig 5A shows the
relationship of the genera Manihot and Manihotoides. In terms of biological relationship,
there are, of course, many other connections between these taxa, not indicated by this
type of illustration.
A critical examination of the Skylines (Figs 5, 28), and of those specific taxa
delimited on the basis of poor specimens (or limited numbers of specimens), indicates
that it is likely that some modification of specific taxa will be necessary when more
specimens are available. However, we feel confident (on the basis of both morphological
and geographical grounds) that the sectional differentiations represent stable taxonomic
units.
One may more readily achieve a grasp of the types of taxonomic relationship evident
in the genus Manihot by careful comparison of the sectional taxa than by attempting to
grasp the same concepts by examination of the individual species.
1. Manihot sect Manihot
Manihot sect Parvibracteatae Pax subsect Utilissimae Pax in Engler, Pflanzenreich IV. 147(Heft
44): 66. 1910. pro parte.
Manihot sect Heterophyllae Pax subsect Cartbaginenses Pax in Engler, Pflanzenreich IV.
147(Heft 44): 80. 1910. pro parte.
Plantae caulinae, lignosae, infernae ad mediae frutices, folia petiolatae, penitae
lobatae, inflorescentia monoecia panicula.
Plants caulescent, woody, low to medium shrubs; leaves widely spaced on stem;
petiolate, petiole attachment basal; lamina membranaceous, deeply lobed, lobes linear or
obovate. Inflorescence a monoecious panicle; bracts and bracteoles setaceous, margins
usually entire.
TYPE. Manihot esculenta Crantz.
DISTRIBUTION. World-wide lowland tropics, apparently native to the neotropics.
1. Manihot esculenta Crantz, Institutiones Rei Herbariae; nutum naturae digestae ex
habitu 1: 167. 1766; Pax in Engler, Pflanzenreich IV. 147(Heft 44): 67. 1910
(recognized by Pax as a synonym of M. utilissima Pohl); Ciferri, Relaz. e Mon.
Agrario-Coloniali 44: 1-59. 1938; Archiv. Bot. Forli 18: 27-33. 1942; Rogers &
Fleming, Econ. Bot. 27(1): 1973.
Jatropha manibot L., Sp. PI. ed. 1: 1007. 1753. Janipha manihot Humboldt, Bonpland & Kunth,
Nov. Gen. et Spec. 2: 84. 1817.
Jatropha dulcis J. F. Gmelin, Onom. Bot. 5: 7. 1772-1778. (Pohl cites this name as Jatropha
dulcis (Gesner) Gmelin). Manihot dulcis (J. F. Gmelin) Pax in Engler, Pflanzenreich IV.
147(Heft 44): 71. 1910.
Jatropha mitis Rottb., Descript. Surinam. 21. 1776.
Jatropha janipha Loureiro non L. (L. in Mantissa 1: 126. 1771). Fl. Cochinchinensis. 718. 1793.
Jatropha stipulata Vellozo, Fl. Flum. Ic. 10: 5. t 82. 1825; Jatropha stipulata Arrabida in
Steudel, Nomencl. ed. 2 1: 800. 1840. (This is the same as Jatropha stipulata Vellozo, but
attributed by Steudel to Arrabida, the editor of Florae Fluminensis.) Type. Vellozo s n, n v.