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Neotropical Euphorbiaceae s.l.
Cnidoscolus
SUMMARY
Trees, shrubs or herbs, succulent or not, monoecious. Exudate present, white. Armed (sometimes with long, rigid stinging hairs) or unarmed. Indumentum present, hairs usually stinging, sometimes long, or hairs simple*. Stipules present*, free*, simple, unlobed, entire *, not spine-like*, not leaf-like*, without glands, or stipules 0*. Leaves distributed evenly along stem, alternate, simple or compound, lobed or unlobed, base symmetrical, margin toothed or entire, blade not pellucid-punctate, stipels at leaflet base present or absent *, stipel-like structures or glands present on lower surface at leaf base or petiole apex*; with 3 – 7 strong veins from base or venation pinnate; domatia absent*. Petiole present, without swellings or bends at base or apex*, with or without glands or stipel-like structures at apex. Inflorescence with axis, axillary or terminal, panicle-like; bracts not leaf-like*, green. Male flowers: pedicels present, articulated, or pedicels 0*; sepals 5; imbricate, partially fused, petal-like, greenish or white; petals 0; disc glands 5, extrastaminal*, stamens 10–20, free to partially or completely fused, in 1–more rows; anther with or without conspicuous modification, thecae introrse in bud; staminodes sometimes present at apex of stamen column; pistillode absent. Female flowers: pedicels present, not articulated, or pedicels 0*; sepals 5; imbricate, partially fused, reflexed, falling early, greenish or white; petals 0; disc glands 5, surrounding the ovary, ovary locules 3, ovules per locule 1; styles 3, partially fused, style 2–more-divided, (i.e. ultimate divisions per locule 2–many), styles or stigmas not flat*, surface smooth*; staminodes absent. Fruit dehiscent, not sculptured*, hairy, greenish to brown; seed with fleshy structure (aril? caruncle?) at one end; embryo flat, not minute, cotyledons leaf-like*.
An asterisk * indicates a state has been assumed but not yet confirmed.
About 50 species.