Jatropha macrorhiza

Bentham

Pl. Hartw., 8. 1839.

Common names: Jirawilla jicamilla bahada ragged nettlespurge
Illustrated
Synonyms: Jatropha arizonica I. M. Johnston J. macrorhiza var. septemfida Englemann
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 12. Treatment on page 201. Mentioned on page 199, 202.

Herbs, perennial, to 0.5 m, monoecious, with ± fleshy subterranean caudex to 11 cm diam., stem and root scars round. Stems erect, green, usually sparsely branched, herbaceous, somewhat succulent, glabrous; short-shoots absent; latex watery, colorless. Leaves ± evenly distributed on long-shoots; stipules persistent, 4–10 mm, filiform-divided; petiole 4.8–10.5 (–13.5) cm, not stipitate-glandular; blade cordate in outline, 11–16 × 9.3–11.2 cm, (3–) 5–7 (–9) -lobed to middle, base cordate, margins coarsely dentate, apex acuminate, membranous, abaxial surface glabrous, adaxial glabrous, except puberulent on veins, margins sometimes puberulent or with setae; venation palmate. Inflorescences bisexual, terminal and subterminal, cymes; peduncle 1.5–4.5 cm; bracts (6–) 8–16 mm, margins serrate, glabrous. Pedicels 2.5–4 mm. Staminate flowers: sepals distinct or connate to 1/2 length, lanceolate, 5–7 × 1–2 mm, margins deeply divided, apex acuminate, surfaces glabrous; corolla light pink, often with white striations, rotate, petals distinct or connate 1/4 length, 8–11.5 × 2.5–4.5 mm, surfaces glabrous; stamens 8 (–9) in 2 whorls (5 + 3); filaments of outer whorl distinct, of inner whorl connate to 1/2 length, outer whorl 3.5–6 mm, inner whorl 4.5–9 mm. Pistillate flowers resembling staminate, but slightly larger; carpels 3; styles distinct or connate only at base, 3.5–4 mm. Capsules ± spheric, 1.2–1.3 × 1.2–1.3 cm, distinctly 3-lobed, explosively dehiscent. Seeds pale gray, ellipsoidal, 8–9 × 6–6.5 mm; caruncle prominent. 2n = 22.


Phenology: Flowering and fruiting spring–summer.
Habitat: Hillsides, mesas, sandy washes.
Elevation: 1000–2600 m.

Distribution

Ariz., N.Mex., Tex., Mexico (Chihuahua), Mexico (Sonora)

Discussion

Jatropha macrorhiza is known in Texas only from a single collection made in Presidio County in 1938; it is common in nearby Chihuahua and appears to be native to trans-Pecos Texas, but may now be extirpated there.

Plants from the United States often have been called var. septemfida, named in reference to having seven (as opposed to five) leaf lobes or segments. However, leaf segment number varies, even on the same plant, from four to nine (usually five to seven). Hence, a distinct variety cannot be recognized. R. McVaugh (1945) reported this species to have ten stamens; I have not seen any live or herbarium specimens with ten; two collections have recorded nine.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"/2" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property."connate" is not a number. "distinct" is not a number.

... more about "Jatropha macrorhiza"
connate +  and distinct +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (?) +
acuminate +
Bijan Dehgan +
Bentham +
cordate +
0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (1.6 cm16 mm <br />0.016 m <br />) +
1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br /> (1.3 cm13 mm <br />0.013 m <br />) +
3-lobed +  and spheric +
1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br /> (1.3 cm13 mm <br />0.013 m <br />) +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (11 cm110 mm <br />0.11 m <br />) +
subterranean +
Jirawilla +, jicamilla +, bahada +  and ragged nettlespurge +
Ariz. +, N.Mex. +, Tex. +, Mexico (Chihuahua) +  and Mexico (Sonora) +
1000–2600 m. +
staminate +  and pistillate +
stipitate-glandular +
subtending +
Hillsides, mesas, sandy washes. +
0.45 cm4.5 mm <br />0.0045 m <br /> (?) +  and 0.9 cm9 mm <br />0.009 m <br /> (?) +
palmate +  and pinnate +
distributed +
persistent +  and deciduous +
palmate +  and pinnate +
extrastaminal +
5-lobed +, annular +  and of 5 glands +
0.35 cm3.5 mm <br />0.0035 m <br /> (?) +  and 0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (?) +
0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (4.5 cm45 mm <br />0.045 m <br />) +
purple +, red +, pink +, greenish yellow +  and white +
connate;distinct +
8mm;11.5mm +
0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br /> (0.45 cm4.5 mm <br />0.0045 m <br />) +
10.5 cm105 mm <br />0.105 m <br /> (13.5 cm135 mm <br />0.135 m <br />) +
not stipitate-glandular +
4.8 cm48 mm <br />0.048 m <br /> (10.5 cm105 mm <br />0.105 m <br />) +
Flowering and fruiting spring–summer. +
1-3-carpellate +
Pl. Hartw., +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (0.9 cm9 mm <br />0.009 m <br />) +
ellipsoidal +
0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (0.65 cm6.5 mm <br />0.0065 m <br />) +
connate +  and distinct +
? (?) +  and ? (?) +
lanceolate +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
Illustrated +
free +, connate +  and distinct +
connate;distinct +
succulent +
filiform-divided +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br />) +
connate +  and distinct +
0.35 cm3.5 mm <br />0.0035 m <br /> (?) +  and 0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (?) +
Jatropha arizonica +  and J. macrorhiza var. septemfida +
Jatropha macrorhiza +
Jatropha +
species +
3] +  and 2 +