In Family Euphorbiaceae the Codiaeum genus has 17 species.
They are native to tropical areas from Queensland to New Guinea, Borneo and the Philippines.
They are herbs, shrubs or small trees.
Cut stems may exude a latex and there are no hairs or just simple ones.
The alternate leaves, on a petiole up to around 50 cm long are very variable.
There may be tiny stipules at the petiole base.
Blades are mostly simple but occasionally they are 3-lobed or irregularly lobed.
The blades can be flat, twisted or the edges may be curved under.
There may be glands at the base and the veins are pinnate.
They can be a plain green or variously multi-coloured and patterned.
Axillary inflorescences, around 40 cm long are near the branch ends.
The subtending leaf can be a typical leaf or small circular one.
The racemes have flowers along the midrib with the bottom ones opening first.
There is a usually a peduncle a few to 40 cm long and flowers are on a pedicel up to 2 cm long.
Racemes are almost always unisexual with male and female on the same plant.
Male flowers are solitary or in groups of up to six.
The 5 (3 to 6) sepals, up to 2.5 mm long overlap in the bud.
There are almost always 5 (3 to 6) white 1 mm long petals.
The annular disc inside the petals has 5 to 15 yellow lobes (nectaries).
The 15 to around 100 free stamens have basi or dorsi-fixed anthers.
The pollen sacs (thecae) open outwards through long slits.
There is no ovary or any remnants of one.
The solitary female flowers have shorter and thicker pedicels to carry the fruit.
Sepals are similar to the males but under 1 mm and there are no petals.
The low annular nectiferous disc may have 5 shallow lobes.
The superior ovary has 3 locules with each having 1 ovule.
The styles from each of the 3 carpels are fused for a short distance near the base.
Three spreading or backwards curved style arms hold the stigmas.
The capsules, almost 1 cm long are almost spherical or slightly 3-lobed.
They rupture along the suture lines (septicidal).
The seeds have a smooth spotted skin.
J.F.
