Jatropha gossypiifolia L.
var. elegans (Pohl) Müll. Arg.

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Jatropha gossypiifolia var. elegans

Photo: Bart Wursten
Edge of lake, Hot Springs Resort

Jatropha gossypiifolia var. elegans

Photo: Bart Wursten
Edge of lake, Hot Springs Resort

Jatropha gossypiifolia var. elegans

Photo: Bart Wursten
Edge of lake, Hot Springs Resort

Jatropha gossypiifolia var. elegans

Photo: Bart Wursten
Edge of lake, Hot Springs Resort

Jatropha gossypiifolia var. elegans

Photo: Bart Wursten
Edge of lake, Hot Springs Resort

Jatropha gossypiifolia var. elegans

Photo: Bart Wursten
Svisvi River bridge, Gokwe District.

Jatropha gossypiifolia var. elegans

Photo: Mark Hyde
Bushbaby Lodge, Cromlet Road, Arcturus

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms: Jatropha elegans (Pohl) Klotzsch
Common names: Bellyache bush (English) Red physic nut (English)
Description: Multi-stemmed shrub. Stems and branches hollow, purple, covered in stalked glands (image 3). Leaves crowded near the ends of branches, palmately 3-5-lobed, dark purple when young, turning olive-green with age, margins and petioles with hair-like stalked glands. Flowers in terminal clusters, deep red with a yellow centre. Fruit a 3-lobed capsule.
Notes: Introduced as a fast-growing hedge plant and has become naturalised. It is particularly abundant in the Nyanyadzi and Birchenough Bridge areas.
Derivation of specific name: gossypiifolia: with leaves like a Gossypium, i.e. palmately lobed
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution: Native to tropical America from Mexico to Paraguay and naturalised elsewhere
Growth form(s):
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Image last updated: Monday 6 May 2019
Literature:

Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 149.

Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 42.

Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 49.

Radcliffe-Smith, A. (1996). Euphorbiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(4) Page 259.

Other sources of information about Jatropha gossypiifolia var. elegans:

Our websites:

Flora of Malawi: Jatropha gossypiifolia var. elegans
Flora of Mozambique: Jatropha gossypiifolia var. elegans
Flora of Zambia: Jatropha gossypiifolia var. elegans
Flora of Zimbabwe: Jatropha gossypiifolia var. elegans

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Jatropha gossypiifolia
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Jatropha gossypiifolia
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Jatropha gossypiifolia
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Jatropha gossypiifolia
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Jatropha gossypiifolia
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Jatropha gossypiifolia
JSTOR Plant Science: Jatropha gossypiifolia
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Jatropha gossypiifolia
Plants of the World Online: Jatropha gossypiifolia
Tropicos: Jatropha gossypiifolia
Wikipedia: Jatropha gossypiifolia


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Cultivated Plants: Species information: Jatropha gossypiifolia var. elegans.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/cult/species.php?species_id=135410, retrieved 28 March 2024

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