Jepson Flora Project: Jepson Interchange |
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TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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Jepson Interchange (more information) |
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
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AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY |
Annual, perennial herb, shrub, tree, vine, monoecious or dioecious
Stem generally branched, sometimes fleshy or spiny
Leaves generally simple, alternate or opposite, generally stipuled, petioled; blade entire, toothed, or palmately lobed
Inflorescence: cyme, panicle, raceme, spike; flowers sometimes in clusters (dense, enclosed by involucre, flower-like in Chamaesyce, Euphorbia ), terminal or axillary
Flower unisexual, ± radial; sepals generally 35, free or fused; petals generally 0; stamens 1many, free or filaments fused; ovary superior, chambers 14, styles free or fused, simple or lobed
Fruit: generally capsule
Seeds 12 per chamber; seed scar appendage sometimes present, pad- to dome-like
Genera in family: 300 genera, 7500 species: ± worldwide especially tropical; some cultivated (Aleurites , tung oil; Euphorbia subsp.; Hevea , rubber; Ricinus )
Reference: [Webster 1967 J Arnold Arbor 48:303430]
Many species ± highly TOXIC .
Perennial < 0.5 m, monoecious; hairs stinging, nettle-like
Stems spreading to erect, branched, sometimes twining
Leaves generally simple, cauline, alternate; stipules persistent
Inflorescence: raceme, terminal or opposite leaf; staminate flowers above pistillate flowers
Staminate flower: sepals 3(5); petals 0; stamens 36(50); nectary 0
Pistillate flower: sepals 48; petals 0; ovary 3-chambered, styles simple, ± fused at base
Fruit ± spheric
Seeds 1 per chamber, smooth or ± rough; scar not appendaged
Species in genus: ± 100 species: tropical, warm temp worldwide
Etymology: (Latin: Tragus, name for Hieronymus Bock, German herbalist, 14981554)
Reference: [Miller & Webster 1967 Rhodora 69:241305]