Hippomane is a genus of plants in the Euphorbiaceae described by Linnaeus in 1753. It is native to the West Indies, Central America, Mexico, Florida, Venezuela, Colombia, and Galápagos.

Derivation of name

The name of the genus references the Greek name hippomanes (applied by Theophrastus to an unidentified plant said to poison horses, sending them mad) - this being a compound of the Greek elements ἵππος (= ) horse and μανία (= mania) insanity / frenzy - hence "sending horses insane".

Species

1. Accepted Species

2. Hippomane horrida Urb. & Ekman. - Barahona in Dominican Rep

3. Hippomane mancinella L. - West Indies, Mexico, Central America, Florida Keys, Venezuela, Colombia, Galápagos

4. Hippomane spinosa L. - Hispaniola

5. Species formerly included

moved to other genera: Sapium

References