EUPHORBIACBAE 297 



Shrubs from fleshy roots, the leaf-lobes 3 to 7, lanceolate to oblong-oblan- 

 ceolate; fruit longitudinally 6 ridged 1. M. utilissirm 



Trees with 3- to 5-lobed leaves; the lobes obovate to elliptic; fruit not 

 "<^&ed 2. M. glaziovii 



1. M. UTiLissiMA Pohl. Camoteng-cahoy (Tag.) ; Cassava, Manioc, Tapioca 

 Plant. 



An erect, glabrous suflfrutescent or shruby plant 1.5 to 3 m high from 

 stout fleshy roots. Leaves 10 to 20 cm long, pale beneath, palmately 

 divided nearly to the base into 3 to 7, lanceolate to oblong-oblanceolate, 

 entire, acuminate segments, some of the upper leaves often entire. In- 

 florescence axillary, lax, few-flowered. Flowers about 1 om long. Capsules 

 ovoid, about 1.5 cm long, longitudinally narrowly 6-winged. 



Common in hedge-rows along streets, etc., rarely flowering in Manila; 

 common and widely distributed in the Philippines in cultivation. A native 

 of tropical America, now planted in all warm countries. 



*2. M. GLAZiovii Muell.-Arg. Ceara Rubber Tree. 



A glabrous tree reaching a height of 12 m or more, with thin, some- 

 what papery bark. Leaves long-petioled, 8 to 20 cm long, somewhat 

 peltate at the cordate base, glaucous beneath, palmately. 3- to 5-lobed, 

 the lobes obovate to broadly elliptic, acute or shortly acuminate, entire. 

 Panicles in the uppermost axils, shorter than the leaves. Flowers about 1 

 cm long. Capsule ellipsoid, 2 to 2.3 cm long, not longitudinally ridged. 



Singalon, cultivated, fl. Sept.; of recent introduction here. One of 

 the commercial rubber trees, a native of' Brazil. 



21. ALCHORNEA Swartz 



Trees or shrubs, dioecious or monoecious, with simple, entire or toothed 

 leaves, usually glandular at the base and often 3- or 5-nerved. Male 

 -flowers small, clustered on axillary or terminal, solitary or panicled spikes, 

 the bracts small. Calyx small, globose, 2- to 4-valved. Petals none. Sta- 

 mens 6 to 8 or more, the filaments free or connate below. Rudimentary 

 ovary none; Female flowers in axillary or terminal spikes. Sepals 3 to- 

 6, imbricate. Petals none. Ovary 2- to 4rcelled; styles distinct, often 

 long; ovules 1 in each cell. Capsule of two or three, 2-valved, crustaceoua 

 cocci. 



Species about 30 of wide tropical distribution, 2 in the Philippines. 



1. A. sicca (Blanco) Merr. Balanti (Tag.).* 



An erect dioecious shrub usually 1 to 2 m high, glabrous or nearly so. 

 Leaves ovate, 3 to 12 cm long, crenulate, acuminate, base glandular, 

 rounded, Stnerved. Male spikes axillary, catkin-like, green and purplish, 

 1 to 5 cm long, about 3. mm thick, flowers numerous, densely arranged. 

 Stamens 8. Female flowers small, scattered in slender, erect, few-flowered, 

 2. to 10 cm long spikes, each flower with 3. acuminate bracts longer than 

 the calyx, ths styles simple, purple. Capsules ovoid, rugose, about 8 mm 

 in diameter. (Fl. Filip. pZ. SOI, Excoecaria sicca.) 



In thickets^ Pasay to San' Felipe Neri, Pasig, etc., fl. Mar .-June; of 

 local occurrence in the Philippines. Endemic. 



' This name is usually applied to species of Homalanthus that do not 

 occur in our area. 



