Jatropha podagrica is a species of flowering, caudiciform succulent plant in the spurge family,Euphorbiaceae, aligning it closely with related genera such as Croton, Euphorbia and Ricinus (castor bean), among others.[2][3] It is native to the neotropics of Central America and southern Mexico, but is grown as an ornamental plant in many parts of the world due to its unusual appearance and mature caudex development. Common names for the species include gout-plant, gout-stalk, Guatemalan rhubarb, coral-plant, Buddha-belly plant, purging-nut, physic-nut, goutystalk nettlespurge, Australian bottleplant (a geographical misnomer) and tartogo.[4][5][6][7]
| Jatropha podagrica | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Euphorbiaceae |
| Genus: | Jatropha |
| Species: | J. podagrica
|
| Binomial name | |
| Jatropha podagrica | |
Description
editJ. podagrica is a caudiciform perennial herb growing up to 1 metre (3 feet) tall.[4][5][6] The grey-green, knobby, swollen caudex has a bottle-like appearance, giving rise to some of the common names. Leaves are held on long fleshy yet stout petioles which emerge from the tip of the stem and radiate in all directions. Leaves are peltate and 3 or 5 lobed. Dense clusters of small, orange-red, flowers are held above the leaves on long slim peduncles. The clusters carry both male and female flowers and flowering continues for most of the year.[4][5][8] Fruit are green capsules at first, becoming blackish-brown at maturity when they burst and scatter the seeds up to 4 metres (13 feet) away.[5][6]
When cut, the plant exudes a copious sticky sap which may cause dermatitis on contact.[8]
Cultivation
editThe swollen caudex, showy leaves, and colourful flowers make J. podagrica an attractive ornamental, and it is grown as an indoor plant in many parts of the world.
Uses
editThere are many traditional uses of J. podagrica in folk medicine, with a number of significant research initiatives being undertaken into the species' potential health benefits. Several projects have sought to identify medicinally-useful compounds contained within J. podagrica,[9][10][11] with potential applications as an analgesic, aphrodisiac, antimicrobial/disinfectant, antivenin, gout treatment, intestinal parasite purge, laxative and tonic, amongst other possibilities.[4][5][6][12]
Industrial and practical uses include the plant's potential as a form of biofuel, dye, pest control, plant fertiliser, soap, and as a natural form of lighting or lamp oil (typically kerosene), as well as for leather and tanning.[4][5][6]
Toxicity
editAll parts of the plant are considered toxic, in particular the seeds. The main toxins are a purgative oil and a phytotoxin or toxalbumin (curcin) similar to ricin in Ricinis.[6][13]
Galleries
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Jatropha podagrica -
Buddha-belly plant; Pondicherry, Puducherry, India. -
Flowering bracts of J. podagrica. -
Close-up of bracts. -
Fruit-setting of J. podagrica. -
Bracts and blooms of J. podagrica. -
J. podagrica flowers, fruits and foliage. -
J. podagrica fruit development, post-pollination. -
J. podagrica, Thailand. -
J. podagrica, blooming.
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References
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- ^ "Jatropha podagrica". International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
- ^ "Jatropha podagrica Hook. — The Plant List". www.theplantlist.org. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
- ^ "Tropicos | Name - !Jatropha podagrica Hook". www.tropicos.org. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
- ^ a b c d e "Jatropha podagrica". www.llifle.com. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
- ^ a b c d e f "Gouty stem of Jatropha podagrica (Buddha Belly Plant) | John&Jacq~s Garden". Retrieved 2020-01-13.
- ^ a b c d e f "Buddha belly plant, Jatropha podagrica, Gout plant, Fo du shu : Philippine Medicinal Herbs / Alternative Medicine". www.stuartxchange.org. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
- ^ "Jatropha podagrica - Australian Bottle Plant". www.flowersofindia.net. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
- ^ a b Queensl, Children's Health (2017-07-18). "Guatemala rhubarb (Jatropha podagrica) | Children's Health Queensland". Children’s Health Queensland. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
- ^ Bawm, Saw; Tiwananthagorn, Saruda; Lin, Kyaw San; Hirota, Junichi; Irie, Takao; Htun, Lat Lat; Maw, Ni Ni; Myaing, Tin Tin; Phay, Nyunt; Miyazaki, Satoshi; Sakurai, Tatsuya (2010). "Evaluation of Myanmar Medicinal Plant Extracts for Antitrypanosomal and Cytotoxic Activities". Journal of Veterinary Medical Science. advpub (4): 525–8. doi:10.1292/jvms.09-0508. PMID 20032625.
- ^ Aiyelaagbe, O. O.; Adesogan, E. K.; Ekundayo, O.; Adeniyi, B. A. (2000). "The antimicrobial activity of roots of Jatropha podagrica (Hook)". Phytotherapy Research. 14 (1): 60–62. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1099-1573(200002)14:1<60::AID-PTR597>3.0.CO;2-B. ISSN 1099-1573. PMID 10641053. S2CID 8325634.
- ^ Aiyelaagbe, Olapeju O.; Adesogan, Kayode; Ekundayo, Olusegun; Gloer, James B. (2008). "ChemInform Abstract: Antibacterial Diterpenoids from Jatropha podagrica Hook". ChemInform. 39 (6). doi:10.1002/chin.200806166. ISSN 1522-2667.
- ^ "Jatropha podagrica in Flora of China @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
- ^ "Jatropha podagrica (PIM 647)". www.inchem.org. Retrieved 2020-01-13.