Trees, monoecious; hairs absent; latex white. Leaves persistent, alternate, simple; stipules present, caducous; petiole present, glands at apex; blade unlobed, margins remotely serrate or crenate, laminar glands absent; venation pinnate. Inflorescences bisexual (pistillate flowers proximal, staminate distal), terminal, spikelike thyrses; glands subtending each bract 2. Pedicels: staminate present, pistillate rudimentary. Staminate flowers: sepals 2, imbricate, connate proximally; petals 0; nectary absent; stamens 2, connate basally; pistillode absent. Pistillate flowers: sepals 3[–4], connate proximally; petals 0; nectary absent; pistil 6–9-carpellate; styles 6–9, connate basally, unbranched. Fruits drupes. Seeds elliptic-compressed; caruncle absent. x = 11.

Distribution

Fla., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, n South America, Pacific Islands (Galápagos Islands).

Discussion

Species 2 or 3 (1 in the flora).

Hippomane horrida Urban & Ekman and H. spinosa Linnaeus are endemic to Hispaniola.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Hippomane mancinella