Flora of Dominica, Part 2 - Smithsonian Institution Libraries

80 EUPHORBIACEAE SMlTHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY
cultivated as an ornamental and for its valuable seed oil. Hodge
and Taylor (1957576) discussed the extensive uses by the
Caribs of Dominica Adjanohoun et al. (1985105, pl. 72)
reported medicinal uses. The plants have an herbaceous stem,
peltate 5-1 1-lobed leaves, and capsule to 2.5 cm across with
soft spines. They tend to escape in disturbed areas and are quite
common, although rarely collected: Canefield (Hodge 570),
Goodwill (Wilbur 7582), SCOW Head (Hodge 1621).
1. Ovules 2 in each locule; leaves without petiolar or laminar glands; latex never
developed; styles bifid or dilated, not decompound.
2. Stipules intrapetiolar-connivent (sheathing); petals present ...... Amanua
2. Stipules interpetiolar, not connivent; petals absent.
3. Flowers in racemiform inflorescences; staminate flowers with pistillodes.
4. Leaves lepidote, pointed at tip; staminate flowers pedicellate; fruit
drupaceous, 1-seeded, 1 cm long ....................... Richeria
3. Flowers glomerulate in axillary clusters; staminate flower without a distinct
pistillode.
5. Leaves k coriaceous; staminate disk central; lobed carpels 1 or 2; fruit
Drypetes
indehiscent ............................
5. Leaves membranous; staminate disk not central; carpels 3-5; fruit
dehiscent.
6. Dioecious trees; carpels (3)4-5; fruit irregularly dehiscent; seeds fleshy
............................... Margarihria
6. Monoecious herbs or shrubs; carpels 3; hit dehiscent into 3 cocci; seeds
dry ............................. Phyllanthus
1. Ovules solitary in each locule; leaves often with glands; milky latex often present;
styles bifid to decompound or dilated.
7. Perianth absent; inflorescence a bisexual pseudo-flower (cyathium) with a fused
involucre of 4-5 glanduliferous bracts around a central pistillate flower and
several to many staminate flowers.
8. Leaves all opposite, usually clearly unequal (oblique) at base (or if equal then
with stems jointed); cyathium with 4 glands ..........
Chamuesyce
8. Leaves whorled (ours) alternate below (sometimes opposite above), equal at
base; stems not jointed; cyathium with 1-2 glands ....... Euphurbia
7. Perianth present or, if rudimentary the inflorescences spiciform; glanduliferous
perianth parts absent.
9. Stamens inflexed in bud; indument at least partly of scales or branched
(stellate) hairs ............................. Crutun
9. Stamens not distinctly inflexed in bud; indument of simple or centrally
attached hairs.
10. Leaves palmately veined.
11. Perianth biseriate (petals present) ................ Jatrupha
11. Perianth uniseriate.
12. Perianth petaloid, united (gamophyllous); herbs. .... Cnidoscolus
12. Perianth not petaloid, segments nearly or quite distinct; vines.
13. Leaves deeply lobed; inflorescence subtended by 2-3-lobed bracts
............................ Dalechampia
13. Leaves serrate to entire; inflorescence not enclosed by bracts.
14. Stinging hairs absent; leaves entire. ......... Plukenetia
14. Stinging hairs present; leaves serrate ........... Tragiu
10. Leaves pinnately veined.
15. Floral bracts lacking basal glands; sap not milky.
16. Leaves opposite ...................... Sebastiania
16. Leaves alternate.