Jatropha gossypiifolia L.
var. elegans (Pohl) Müll. Arg.
Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (13)
Photo: Bart Wursten
Edge of lake, Hot Springs Resort
Photo: Bart Wursten
Edge of lake, Hot Springs Resort
Photo: Bart Wursten
Edge of lake, Hot Springs Resort
Photo: Bart Wursten
Edge of lake, Hot Springs Resort
Photo: Bart Wursten
Edge of lake, Hot Springs Resort
Photo: Bart Wursten
Svisvi River bridge, Gokwe District.
Photo: Mark Hyde
Bushbaby Lodge, Cromlet Road, Arcturus
Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)
Synonyms:
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Jatropha elegans (Pohl) Klotzsch
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Common names:
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Bellyache bush (English)
Red physic nut (English)
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Frequency:
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Locally abundant |
Status:
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Introduced |
Description:
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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:
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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:
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gossypiifolia: with leaves like a Gossypium, i.e. palmately lobed |
Habitat:
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Near rivers and particularly in disturbed areas. |
Altitude range: (metres) |
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Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution:
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Native to tropical America from Mexico to Paraguay and naturalised elsewhere |
Zimbabwe distribution:
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N,W,E |
Growth form(s):
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Endemic status:
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Red data list status:
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Insects associated with this species:
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Spot characters:
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Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: |
Monday 6 May 2019 |
Literature:
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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.
Radcliffe-Smith, A. (1996). Euphorbiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(4) Page 259.
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Other sources of information about Jatropha gossypiifolia var. elegans:
Our websites:
Flora of Malawi:
Jatropha gossypiifolia var. elegansFlora of Mozambique:
Jatropha gossypiifolia var. elegansFlora of Zambia:
Jatropha gossypiifolia var. elegansFlora of Zimbabwe:
cultivated Jatropha gossypiifolia var. elegansExternal websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg):
Jatropha gossypiifoliaBHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library):
Jatropha gossypiifoliaEOL (Encyclopedia of Life):
Jatropha gossypiifoliaGBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility):
Jatropha gossypiifoliaGoogle:
Web -
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ScholariNaturalist:
Jatropha gossypiifoliaIPNI (International Plant Names Index):
Jatropha gossypiifoliaJSTOR Plant Science:
Jatropha gossypiifoliaMansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops:
Jatropha gossypiifoliaPlants of the World Online:
Jatropha gossypiifoliaTropicos:
Jatropha gossypiifoliaWikipedia:
Jatropha gossypiifolia
Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-23
Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M.
(2023).
Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Jatropha gossypiifolia var. elegans. https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=135410, retrieved 6 June 2023
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