|
(Last Modified On 3/20/2013)
|
|
|
|
(Last Modified On 3/20/2013)
|
|
Genus
|
Ricinus L.
|
|
PlaceOfPublication
|
Sp. P1. 1007, 1753
|
|
Reference
|
Gen. PI. ed. 5, 437, 1754.
|
|
Description
|
Shrubs or trees (in tropical regions); twigs and foliage glabrous, sap watery. Leaves alternate, petiolate (petioles long, ? glanduliferous at apex), stipulate (stipules fused into a caducous sheath); blade peltate, palmately 7-11-lobed, ser- rate. Inflorescences terminal (sometimes appearing opposite the leaves or axillary due to sympodial growth), paniculate, the proximal nodes with cymules of several c flowers, the distal cymules 9 or I ; bracts papery, glandular at base; the flowers with valvate calyx, apetalous, disc absent. Staminate flowers pedicellate; calyx calyptrate in bud, splitting into 3-5 segments at anthesis; stamens co (up to 1000), the filaments partially connate into fascicles at base, irregularly branched; pollen grains spheroidal, tectate, 3-colporate, colpi narrow; pistillode absent. Pistillate flowers pedicellate, with calyx similar to the c; ovary of 3 carpels, muricate, the ovules 1 per locule, the styles connate below, bifid, the branches usually conspicu- ously papillate. Fruits capsular, echinate (or smooth in some cultivars), the columella wing-dilated above; seeds elliptic, somewhat compressed, smooth, mot- tled, carunculate, the endosperm copious, the cotyledons foliaceous and palmately veined.
|
|
Habit
|
Shrubs or trees
|
|
Distribution
|
A monotypic genus native to the Old World; probably African in origin, but now widely distributed in tropical and warm-temperate regions.
|
|
Tag
|
|
|
|
Project Name
|
|
Tag
|
|
|
|