Sapium

Sapium is a genus of flowering plants in the family Euphorbiaceae.<ref>Jacquin, Nicolaus Joseph von. 1790. Enumeratio Systematica Plantarum, quas in insulis Caribaeis 9, 31 in Latin</ref><ref>Tropicos, Sapium Jacq.</ref> It is widespread across most of Latin America and the West Indies.<ref name=tina>Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families</ref><ref>Govaerts, R., Frodin, D.G. & Radcliffe-Smith, A. (2000). World Checklist and Bibliography of Euphorbiaceae (and Pandaceae) 1-4: 1-1622. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.</ref> Many Old World species were formerly included in the genus, but recent authors have redistributed all the Old World species into other genera.<ref>Kruijt, R. C. (1996). A taxonomic monograph of Sapium Jacq., Anomostachys (Baill.) Hurus., Duvigneaudia J. Léonard and Sclerocroton Hochst. (Euphorbiaceae tribe Hippomaneae). Template:Webarchive Biblioth. Bot. 146, 1-109.</ref>

Species are known commonly as milktrees.<ref name=itis>Sapium. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).</ref>

Description

These are shrubs and trees. They produce latex. The leaves are alternately arranged and smooth-edged or toothed. They are monoecious, often with spikelike or raceme-shaped inflorescences that have several male flowers, plus a few female flowers near the base. The male flowers have 2 to 4 stamens. The female flowers have 2 to 4 styles which are sometimes coiled. The flowers lack petals. The fruit has 2 to 4 lobes and may split open or not.

Species<ref name=tina/>

Toxicity

The milky sap of Sapium biloculare is poisonous if it comes into contact with the eyes, mucous membranes, stomach or bloodstream. It was used in arrow poison and to stupefy fish.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>