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(Last Modified On 3/20/2013)
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(Last Modified On 3/20/2013)
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Genus
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Sapium P. Browne
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PlaceOfPublication
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Civ. Nat. Hist. Jamaica 338, 1756.
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Synonym
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Excoecaria Muell.-Arg. in DC., Prodr. 15(2):1201, 1866 (pro parte).
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Description
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Trees or shrubs, glabrous; monoecious or rarely dioecious; milky latex in stems. Leaves alternate, simple, petiolate, usually with two glands near apex; stipules small. Inflorescences spicate, terminal, bisexual. Staminate flowers in several-flowered clusters at distal nodes, subtending bract biglandular; calyx gamosepalous, 2-3-lobed; corolla and disc absent; stamens 2 or 3, the filaments free or connate at base, the anthers extrorse; pollen grains subglobose, tectate, 3-colporate. Pistillate flowers solitary at proximal nodes, subtending bracts usually biglandular; calyx gamosepalous (2-) 3-5-lobed, sometimes obscurely so; corolla and disc absent; carpels 3 (rarely 2), each with a single ovule, the 3 styles sim- ple, usually connate at least at base, the stylar column often early-deciduous. Fruit capsular, sometimes fleshy or somewhat woody, the columella usually persistent; seeds rounded, outer seed-coat fleshy, ecarunculate.
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Habit
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Trees or shrubs
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Distribution
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A genus of about 100 species, pantropical but with the majority from the New World.
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Note
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The genus has the reputation of being difficult taxonomically, and this seems well justified with the incomplete specimens available in most herbaria. Dr. E. Jablonski of the New York Botanical Garden is working actively in the group, and it is unfortunate that this treatment must appear before he has published further. Separation of taxa and assignment of names is made here with some trepidation, particularly since the ranges that he gives for South American species (Phytologia 14: 441-449, 1967) already cast some doubt on the correctness of some of my decisions.
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Key
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a. Spikes in clusters of 3-5 (rarely fewer); 8 flowers 2-5 at each node ....1. S. aucuparium aa. Spikes solitary; 8 flowers usually more than 5 at each node. b. Petiole without glands or with only vestiges near junction with blade; leaf-apices more or less plane ----------------- 2. S. eglandulosum bb. Petiole with 2 prominent glands near junction with blade; leaf-apices more or less cucullate. c. Leaves somewhat coriaceous, elliptic to obovate; styles fused only at base, strongly reflexed -------------------------------------------------3. S. caudatum cc. Leaves membranous, elliptic-lanceolate; styles fused for much of length, not reflexed -.--..............................--------4. S. biglandulosum
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