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Neotropical Euphorbiaceae s.l.
Caperonia
SUMMARY
Herbs, annual or perennial, rarely shrubby at base, monoecious or rarely dioecious. Exudate absent*. Unarmed*. Indumentum present, hairs simple, rigid, often glandular, or rarely glabrous throughout. Stipules free*, simple, unlobed, entire *, not spine-like*, not leaf-like*, without glands. Leaves distributed evenly along stem, alternate, simple, unlobed, base symmetrical, margin toothed or almost entire, blade not pellucid-punctate; leaf glands absent; venation pinnate or with 3–7 strong veins from base; domatia absent*; stipel-like appendages absent*. Petiole present, without swellings or bends at base or apex*, without glands. Inflorescence with axis, axillary, spicate or racemose, lax, flowers borne singly along inflorescence axis, upper flowers male, lower female, few-flowered; bracts not leaf-like*, green; pedicels almost 0, or short, not articulated*. Male flowers: sepals 5, valvate, free, greenish; petals 5, inserted on the staminal column, imbricate, free, glabrous, greenish; disc 0; stamens 10 or fewer, partially fused below into a staminal column, above free, spreading; anther without conspicuous modification, thecae introrse in bud; pistillode present. Female flowers: sepals 5–6 (10), imbricate, enlarged relative to other floral parts, greenish; petals 5–6, imbricate, glabrous, greenish, or petals 0; disc 0; ovary locules 3, ovules per locule 1; styles 3, free or slightly fused at base, much branched above (i.e. ultimate divisions per locule many), styles or stigmas not flat*, surface smooth*; staminodes absent. Fruit dehiscent, often bristly, sometimes smooth or spiny, often hairy, sometimes glabrous, greenish to brown; seed without appendage, covering or membraneous layer*, not fleshy; embryo flat, not minute, cotyledons leaf-like.
An asterisk * indicates a state has been assumed but not yet confirmed.
World Checklist: about 35 spp.