| Author: |
Rogers McVaugh,
1944 |
| Family: |
EUPHORBIACEAE |
| Origin: |
Belize,
Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico,
Nicaragua, Panama (N South Africa) |
| Soil: |
Mix |
| Water:
|
Medium - Maximum |
| Sun: |
Maximum |
| Thickness: |
10
Centimetres |
| Height: |
3
Meters |
| Flower:
|
White |
| Propagate: |
Seeds/Cuttings |
| Names:
|
Tree
Spinach, Chaya Col, Kikilchay, Chaykeken |
| Synonyms: |
Cnidoscolus aconitifolius, I.M.Johnst.
Cnidoscolus chaya, Lundell.
Cnidoscolus chayamansa, McVaugh
Cnidoscolus fragrans, Pohl.
Cnidoscolus longipedunculatus, Pax & K.Hoffm.
Cnidoscolus napifolius, Pohl.
Cnidoscolus palmatus, Pohl.
Cnidoscolus quinquelobatus, León.
Jatropha aconitifolia var. multipartita,
Müll.Arg.
Jatropha aconitifolia var. palmata, Müll.Arg.
Jatropha aconitifolia var. papaya, Pax
Jatropha deutziiflora, Croizat.
Jatropha fragrans, Kunth.
Jatropha longepedunculata, Brandegee
Jatropha palmata, Willd.
Jatropha papaya, Medik.
Jatropha quinquelobata, Mill.
Jatropha urens var. inermis, Calvino
Jatropha urens var. longepedunculata,
Brandegee. |
This
member of the Euphorbiaceae family was described by
Rogers McVaugh
in 1944. It is originally found on the
Yucatan peninsula, but can now be found in the central America and on some of the Caribbean islands, where the leaves are eaten. It preferring a well
drained soil with some to much water and lots of sun. The tiny
flowers are white, and the plant can be reproduced both by seeds and
cuttings.
I have to admit is
in not really a caudiciform; the stem tend to be rather slim, not
more than ten centimetres in diameter even though it can reach a
height of three metres. However, I assume it does have quite a
swollen root.
The name is derived from the
Greek words κνίδη (knide), meaning 'nettle' and σκολος
(skolos), meaning 'thorn' or 'prickle'. The species name as it first
was found on the Cayman islands. |
