About Cnidoscolus texanus (Müll.Arg.) Small
Cnidoscolus texanus (Müll.Arg.) Small is a perennial plant that grows from a thick root stock, which can reach up to 40 inches long and 8 inches thick. It produces erect or sprawling branching stems. This plant contains milky latex, and has stiff, prickly, glandular-based stinging hairs. Its stems and leaves are green. The simple leaves are arranged alternately along the stems, measure 3 to 6 inches across, and are deeply cut into 3 to 5 lobes. These lobes are typically roughly and irregularly toothed, or divided into smaller lobes. The flowers form small terminal cymose inflorescences around one inch across. Each flower has five lobed, white, fragrant sepals covered in hispid hairs, and does not produce any petals. Each flower contains 10 connate stamens. Male and female flowers are separate from one another, but grow within the same inflorescence cluster. The fruits develop into prickly capsules that each hold 3 seeds. This species was first described in 1865 by Johannes Müller Argoviensis under the name Jatropha texana. In 1903, John Kunkel Small moved the species to the genus Cnidoscolus, giving it the current accepted name Cnidoscolus texanus.
