Manihot Manihotoides (Euphorbiaceae) - CNCFlora

86 Flora Neotropica
This subspecies shares with subspecies tristis the interesting habitat preference of
granitic outcrops. To our knowledge, only one other species of the genus, Manihot
leptopoda, is found on this type of substrate. These should, therefore, be important in
breeding programs with M. esculenta to improve culture on soils of granitic origin.
M. tristis subspecies saxicola, first described as a separate species in 1939, by
Lanjouw, was brought into cultivation in Buitenzorg shortly after the species was
discovered. The growth pattern under cultivation is much more erect than the typical
pattern as a wild plant (see Lanjouw 1939 photographs). Lanjouw reported 2.3%
"albumin" in the roots on a fresh weight basis. Bolhuis (1953) used this plant in breeding
programs in Java in attempts to increase protein content of the roots of M. esculenta.
Roots of F1 seedlings of the cross M. esculenta X M. tristis subsp saxicola produced
approximately 2% protein, but in clones propagated from these seedlings, protein content
fell back to typical levels (ca 1%).
22c. Manihot tristis Mueller von Argau subsp surumuensis (Ule) Rogers & Appan, stat
nov
Manibot surumuensis Ule, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 114: 12. 1914.
Shrubs. Young stems and mature stems pubescent. Stipules caducous; petiole
pubescent; lamina narrowly peltate, width between basal edge of lamina and petiolelamina
junction 0.2 cm; abaxial lamina surface pubescent; palmately 3 lobed, ca 8.0 cm
long, ca 2.5 cm wide, obovate, lobe base more than 0.3 cm wide, lamina between base of
sinus and petiole-midrib junction greater than 0.3 cm. Inflorescence a sparsely branched
panicle, usually with ca 10 flowers, peduncles, pedicels and tepals pubescent. Fruits and
seeds non vidi. Fig 32D.
TYPE. Ule, E. 7944: Brasil, Roraima Territory: Campos bei der Serra de Pracaua,
Surumu, Feb 1909 (syntypes, K, L, MG, photo of syntype F, NY)
23. Manihot janiphoides Mueller von Argau in Martius, Fl. Bras. 11(2): 480. 1874; Pax in
Engler, Pflanzenreich IV. 147(Heft 44): 80. 1910.
Shrubs, ca 1.5 m tall, branches with a tendency to droop. Roots slender, not tuberous.
Young stems obtuse-angled in cross section, sparsely pubescent; mature stems
glabrous, grayish olive green (5 GY 3/2). Leaves alternate; stipules caducous; petioles
10.0-15.0 cm long, pubescent, strong yellow-green (7.5 GY 7/9), petiole attachment to
lamina basal, nonpeltate; adaxial surface of lamina moderate yellow-green (7.5 GY 5/7),
abaxial surface wax pattern smooth; venation camptodromous, veins on abaxial lamina
surface pubescent; palmately 5 lobed, occasionally with 2 more smaller lobes; median
lobes rhomboid, entire, rarely slightly pandurate, ca 10.0 cm long, ca 3.0 cm wide, apex
acuminate, base angustate to brevi-angustate, base of lobes less than 0.3 cm wide, width
of lamina between base of sinus and petiole-lamina junction less than 0.5 cm; lowest lobes
attenuate, ca 1/3 as long as median lobes. Inflorescence a monoecious, many branched
panicle, ca 15.0 cm long; bracteoles and bractlets setaceous, sparsely pubescent, with
entire margin; pistillate flowers usually restricted to the base of the upper 2/3 of the
inflorescence, pedicels sparsely pubescent, ca 1.5 cm long, tepal yellowish green or with
purplish pigmentation, ca 1.0 cm long, ovary subglobose, glabrous. Staminate buds
ovoid-ellipsoid, tepal ca 1.0 cm long, sparsely pubescent, yellowish green or with purplish
pigmentation, cleft 1/3 way down into 5 lobes; stamens 10, in 2 whorls of 5 each, the
superior whorl 0.8 cm long, the inferior 0.6 cm long. Fruits and seeds non vidi.
Fig 33B, C, D.
TYPE. Warming s n: Brasil, Minas Gerais: prope Lagoa Santa (syntype, P).
DISTRIBUTION. (Fig 3 3A). Brasil, in the states of Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo.
BRASIL. Minas Gerais: Warming 1503 (F, G) Lagoa Santa. Sao Paulo: Cruz 116 (SP) Sao Carlos, 17