Compilation
Jatropha botswanica
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Name
Identification
Jatropha botswanica Radcl.-Sm. [family EUPHORBIACEAE ] (stored under name);
Related name
- Jatropha botswanica
Flora
Entry for Jatropha botswanica Radcl.-Sm. [family EUPHORBIACEAE]
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Zambesiaca
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
FZ, Vol 9, Part 4, (1996) Author: A. Radcliffe-Smith
Names
Jatropha botswanica Radcl.-Sm. [family EUPHORBIACEAE], in Kew Bull. 46: 142 (1991). Type: Botswana, between Bisoli (Bosoli) and Francistown, y. fr. 8.iii.1965, Wild & Drummond 6818 (K, holotype; LISC; PRE; SRGH).
Information
A few-branched pilose perennial herb up to 30 cm tall, arising from a large reddish swollen rootstock.Stipules 1–2 mm long, divided into a few setaceous gland-tipped segments, pink, soon falling.Petioles 1–2 cm long.Leaf blades (2.5)7–9 × (2)5–7 cm, palmately 5-partite or spuriously palmatipartite, cuneate at the base, sparingly pubescent to subglabrous on upper surface, evenly or sparingly pubescent beneath especially along the midribs; the median lobe (1)2–6 × (0.5)1–2 cm, the next 1–5 × 0.5–1 cm and the outer 0.5–3.5 × 0.2–1 cm; all lobes narrowly oblong-oblanceolate, obtuse at the apex, irregularly dentate and sometimes shallowly pinnately lobulate, sparingly glandular-stipitate on the margin; midribs of the lateral lobes diverging above the base, lateral nerves in 10–16 pairs in the median lobe, 9–13 in the next and 6–9 in the outer lobes.Inflorescences up to 8.5 cm long, terminal, pseudopaniculate; peduncle up to 4 cm long; bracts c. 5 mm long, linear, glandular-stipitate.Male flowers: pedicels 1.5 mm long; calyx tube 0.5 mm long; calyx lobes 2–2.5 × 1 mm, ovate-lanceolate, obtuse, glandular-stipitate, pubescent without, glabrous within; petals 5.5 × 1.5 mm, narrowly oblong-oblanceolate, truncate, glabrous, yellow; disk glands 5, free, conoidal, acute; stamens 8, the 5 outer 3 mm long and fused for half their length, the 3 inner 4 mm long and fused for three-quarters their length, filaments glabrous, anthers c. 1 mm long.Female flowers: pedicels 2 mm long; calyx tube 1 mm long; calyx lobes 3 × 2 mm, otherwise as in the male; petals ± as in the male, but slightly larger; disk 5-lobed, the lobes transversely oblong, truncate, somewhat thickened; ovary 2.5 × 2.5 mm, 3-lobed to subglobose, smooth, pubescent; styles 2 mm long, free, erect; stigmas capitate, 2-lobed, subcylindric, smooth.Fruits 9 × 8 mm, obovoid-3-lobed, smooth, evenly pubescent; columella 7 mm long.Mature seeds not known.
Habitat
In dry mopane scrub on bare black soil and in Acacia woodland in depressions.
Range
Not known elsewhere
Distribution
Botswana SE 60 km NW of Serowe, o. fr. & y. fl. 24.iii.1965, Wild & Drummond 7284 (K; LISC; SRGH).Botswana N between Bisoli (Bosoli) and Francistown, y. fr. 8.iii.1965, Wild & Drummond 6818 (K; LISC; PRE; SRGH).