Omphalea

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Omphalea
Omphalea triandra
Omphalea triandra
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Subfamily: Acalyphoideae
Tribe: Omphaleae
Genus: Omphalea
L.
Species

Omphalea bracteata
Omphalea brasiliensis
Omphalea celata
Omphalea diandra - Jamaica navelspurge
Omphalea grandifolia
Omphalea hypoleuca
Omphalea malayana
Omphalea megacarpa
Omphalea oleifera
Omphalea queenslandiae
Omphalea sargentii
Omphalea triandra - Jamaican cobnut, pop nut
Omphalea tricocca
Omphalea oppositifolia - From Madagascar[1]
et al.

Omphalea is a plant genus of the family Euphorbiaceae and the only genus of its tribe (Omphaleae). It comprises 17 species, all of which are tropical shrubs, trees or lianas. 12 of them are native to the Americas, 4 are endemic to Madagascar and 1 to Africa. They have monoecious, apetalous flowers and fleshy fruits with hard centers.[2]

The plants are toxic and few animals can eat them. Diurnal moths of the subfamily Uraniinae feed on it. Species of the genus Urania in the Americas, and of the genus Chrysiridia in Africa.

Distribution of the four Madagascan species of Omphalea
Distribution of the four Madagascan species of Omphalea

The Madagascan species are:

  • O. ankaranensis, a shrub from the limestone karst of northern Madagascar
  • O. palmata, a dry forest shrub, closely related to O. ankaranensis, but from western Madagascar
  • O. occidentalis, also a dry forest species of western Madagascar
  • O. oppositifilia, a tree from the east coast rainforest of Madagascar[2]

The Madagascan sunset moth (Chrysiridia rhipheus) feeds on all four of those species.

[edit] Synonymy

This genus is also known as:

  • Duchola Adans.
  • Hebecocca Beurl.
  • Hecatea Thouars
  • Neomphalea Pax & K.Hoffm.
  • Omphalandria P.Browne
  • Ronnowia Buc'hoz

[edit] Reference

  1. ^ Schatz, George E. Euphorbiaceae - Omphalea oppositifolia. MBG Images of Euphorbiaceae in Madagascar. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved on 2008-02-02.
  2. ^ a b Gillespie, Lynn J. (1997). Omphalea (Euphorbiaceae) in Madagascar: A New Species and a New Combination. Novon 7 (2): 127–136. St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden. doi:10.2307/3392184. Lay summary – JSTOR. 
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