Home | > | List of families | > | Euphorbiaceae | > | Jatropha | > | gossypiifolia |
Synonyms: |
Jatropha elegans (Pohl) Klotzsch |
Common names: | Bellyache bush (English) Red physic nut (English) |
Frequency: | Locally abundant |
Status: | Introduced |
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 |
Habitat: | Near rivers and particularly in disturbed areas. |
Altitude range: (metres) | |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | Native to tropical America from Mexico to Paraguay and naturalised elsewhere |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,W,E |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images 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. |
Home | > | List of families | > | Euphorbiaceae | > | Jatropha | > | gossypiifolia |