Jatropha integerrima

Shrubs, to 2.5–5 m, monoecious. Stems erect, dark brown, striate, much-branched, woody, glabrous; short shoots absent; latex watery, colorless in younger shoots, cloudy-whitish in older branches. Leaves persistent, ± evenly distributed on long shoots; stipules absent; petiole 1–5.5 cm, not stipitate-glandular; blade elliptic-ovate, obovate, lyrate, or panduriform, 7.5–15.3 × 2.9–12.5 cm, unlobed or shallowly 3-lobed, base rounded, cordate, or cuneate, margins entire (sometimes with 2–4 glands or hairs at base), apex acuminate, membranous to ± coriaceous, surfaces glabrous; venation pinnate (palmate if lobed). Inflorescences bisexual, terminal and subterminal, cymes; peduncle 5.2–21 cm; bracts 1–12 mm, margins entire, glabrous. Pedicels 2–8 mm. Staminate flowers: sepals distinct, ovate, 2.5–3(–4) × 1–1.7 mm, margins entire, apex obtuse, surfaces glabrous; corolla bright red to scarlet or pink, rotate, petals distinct, 8.4–12.1 × 2.5–4.3 mm, abaxial surface glabrous, adaxial with tufts of hairs near base; stamens 10 in 2 whorls (5 + 5); filaments of each whorl connate 1/2–3/4 length, outer whorl 4–9 mm, inner whorl 5–12 mm. Pistillate flowers resembling staminate, but sepals 3.1–3.8 × 1.2–2.2 mm; petals 9–17 × 5–10 mm; carpels 3; styles connate 1/2 length, 3–4 mm. Capsules ovoid, 1–1.3 × 0.7–1.1 cm, explosively dehiscent. Seeds cream, mottled with red and black spots, ellipsoidal, 7–10 × 4–6.5 mm; caruncle relatively small, conspicuous. 2n = 22 (cult. Fla.).

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting year-round.
Habitat: Disturbed sites.
Elevation: 0–50 m.

Fla., West Indies, introduced also in Central America, South America, Asia, Pacific Islands, Australia.

Discussion

Jatropha integerrima, native to the West Indies, is one of the more common landscape plants in subtropical and tropical regions and has become naturalized in many areas; it is part of a complex hybrid group involving three or four species that grow sympatrically in western Cuba. There are many cultivars in the trade.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa