Jatropha gossypifolia L.

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.

  • Family

    Euphorbiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Jatropha gossypifolia L.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Erect subshrub to 1 m tall, many-branched from base, producing abundant clear or milky latex; foliage and young branches with viscidulous, glandular dendroid hairs. Leaf blades 3-15 x 5-17 cm, 3-5-palmately lobed, chartaceous, pubescent, the base cordate, the lobes ovate, oblong, or elliptic with glandular margins and acuminate apices; petioles 2.5-18 cm long, densely covered with glandular, branched hairs; stipules dissected, with glandular margins, to 1 cm long. Flowers in terminal, dichasial cymes, the bracts awl-shaped, with glandular margins; calyx pubescent, the sepals ovate, with glandular margins; corolla red, with white center, the petals obovate, 3.5-4 mm long. Staminate flowers numerous. Pistillate flowers few, terminal on dichasial units or basal to the lateral branches; ovary hispid, the styles free, bifid, the stigmas thickened. Capsule globose to obovoid, hispidulous, 10-12 mm long, turning from green to dry, semi woody. Seeds nearly bean-shaped, ca. 8 mm long, light brown, blackish mottled, with a large caruncle.

  • Discussion

    Common names: belly ache bush, body catta, wild physicnut.

    Cultivated species: The following species are growing in gardens but are not known to be spontaneous: Jatropha curcas L., Jatropha integerrima Jacq., and Jatropha multifida L

  • Distribution

    A common roadside weed. Emmaus (A3776), Salt Pond area (A3166), Susannaberg (A832). Also on Anegada, St. Croix, St. Thomas, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda; throughout tropical America.

    Virgin Gorda Virgin Islands South America| Tortola Virgin Islands South America| Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Anegada Virgin Islands South America|