Flora of Dominica, Part 2 - Smithsonian Institution Libraries

NUMBER 77 ERICACEAE-EUPHORBIACEAE 79
(taxonomy), give an impression of instability. Wilbur and
Luteyn were probably correct when they said, “It might seem
premature to submerge Symphysia in Vaccinium since the range
of diversity within that genus at present suggests that the much
needed revisionary studies probably will result in its wholesale
dismemberment.”
ERYTHROXY LACEAE
(by R. DeFilipps)
See Plowman (1976) concerning the spelling and authorship
of Erythroxylum.
1. Leaves deciduous, obtuse to retuse; dry west coast
....................... .E.havanense
1. Leaves evergreen, acuminate; wet interior. ........
....................... E. squamatum
Erythroxylum havanense
Erythroxylum hvanense kcquin, 1760:21.-F’lowman in Howard, 1988,
4545.
Evthroxylwn ovatum Cavanilles, 1789, 8:404, pl. 233.Schulz in Urban,
1907,5:207.
Deciduous shrub or tree to 6 m with white flowers before
leaves in spring, fruits in June-July.
Cuba and Central American into northern South America;
common and dominant in xerophytic scrub thickets of
Dominica: Batali (Chambers 2788), Cabrits (Webster 13297,
Whitefoord 5768), Petit Coulibri (Whitefoord 6039), Pointe
Guignard (Wilbur 8124), Pointe Ronde (Hodge 2650,2746).
Erythroxylum squamatum
Evthroxylwn squamalum Swam, 1788:75.--Schulz in Urban, 1907,5:191.-
Plowman in Howard, 1988,4548.
Ti feuille.
Evergreen tree to 8 m.
Lesser Antilles into South America; in Dominican rainforests
60-800 m: Clyde River (Erst 1031), Deux Branches
(Hodge 2980 at US), Grand Bay (Eggers 623, Hatton Gardens
(Hodge 3009 at GH), La Plaine (Ramage s.n.), Laudat (Eggers
1003), Micotrin (Wilbur 7462), Milton (Hodge 2674), Mosquito
Mountain (Webster 13538), Sylvania (Beard 643).
EUPHORBIACEAE
(by Grady L. Webster)
Aleurites moluccana (Linnaeus) Willdenow, the candlenut
of Asia, a tree to 20 m with stellate-pubescence, 3-5-lobed
leaves, white petals and a fleshy fruit to 6 cm across, is
cultivated pantropically, including Dominica: Clarke Hall
(Ernst 1433, Mt. Joy (Hodge 910).
Antidesma bunius (Linnaeus) Sprengel, cultivated in Asia for
bit, with evergreen, laurel-like leaves to 23 cm x 10 cm, is
cultivated in Dominica: Clarke Hall (Ernst 1417, Nicolson
1821), Roseau Botanic Garden (Nicolson 4217). Dr. J.J. Ochse
stated that he introduced the species in 1959.
Breynia disticha J.R. & J.G. Forster, the snowbush of the
Pacific, a hedge plant with white or mottled leaves, has been
collected along village roads in the Portsmouth area (Hodge
887, Whitefoord 5192).
Codiaeum variegatum (Linnaeus) Adr. Jussieu, the garden
croton of southeast Asia, is a glabrous, monoecious shrub with
fascicled, peduncled flowers in axillary racemes. It is widely
cultivated for its striking leaves of various shapes and
variegation (red, yellow, etc.), including Dominica: Lisdara
(Hodge 2439), Roseau Botanic Garden (Hodge 988).
Excoecaria cochinchinensis Loureiro, a much-branched
shrub with subopposed leaves, has been collected in the Roseau
Botanic Garden (Hodge 3951).
Garcia nutans Rohr was attributed to Dominica without
exclamation mark, indicating no material seen, by Howard
(1989,5:52).
Hevea brasiliesis (Kunth) J. Mueller, the ParA rubber tree,
has compound leaves with 3 leaflets and has been collected in
the Roseau Botanic Garden (Hodge 938). The milky sap is used
to make rubber.
Hura crepitans Linnaeus, the sandbox tree, is a large tree
with many prickles on its trunk, cordate leaves, and unisexual
inflorescences. Dried fruits were used to hold sand to blot ink,
hence its common name. It seems to occur as isolated
individuals and is presumed introduced: East Cabrit (Fisher
s.n., Whitefoord 5268), Mero (Ernst 1766), Fort Shirley ruins
on West Cabrit (DHN!), Roseau (?).
Manihot esculenta Crantz, known as the manioc, cassava, or
tapioca plant, is pantropically cultivated for its starchy,
tuberous roots, including Dominica: Carib Reserve (Tilor
148, 149, 150). It is herbaceous but can grow 3 m high; the
leaves are deeply 3-7-parted and glaucous below. Several
cultivars and their preparation were discussed by Hodge and
Taylor (1957:573-575).
Pedilanthus tithymaloides (Linnaeus) Poiteau subsp. tithymaloides,
sometimes called the slipper plant, is a succulent
shrub cultivated for its variegated, almost white leaves.
Dressler (1957:156) reported that a wild subspecies, P.
tithymuloides subsp. padifolius, occurs in xeric habitats,
including Guadeloupe and Martinique. The one collection from
Dominica (Hodge 3760), from beach near St. Joseph, is
presumed to be the cultivated subspecies, although it is too
incomplete to be certain. Adjanohoun et al. (1985:101, pl. 68)
reported medicinal uses.
Ricinus communis Linnaeus, the castor bean or carapate
(from Carib karapa = oil), native to Africa, is now widely