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Jatropha gossypifolia
| Family Name: | Euphorbiaceae |
| Synonyms: | Acalypha gossypifolium |
| Common Name: | Belly-ache Bush, Jarak, Cotton-leafed Physic-Nut, Jarak Merah, Jarak Hitam, Jarak Beremah, Jarak Keling, 棉叶膏桐 |
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Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Tropical America, Tropical Africa |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Upright growth habit, able to grow up to 1 - 4 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Crown | Sparse, open canopy. |
| Foliage | Light green leaves, alternate arrangement, palmately divided into 3 - 5 lobes, measuring about 4.5 - 10 cm long and 5 - 13 cm wide, petiole measuring about 6 - 9 cm long, young leaves are purple in colour and covered with sticky hairs. |
| Stems | Older stems are thick succulent, younger stems are purple and surface is pubescent. |
| Flowers | Small, maroon 5-petaled flowers in terminal panicles, peduncle of each cluster measuring about 10 - 15 cm long, separate male and female flowers in each cluster, male flowers have 8 - 12 yellow stamens while the middle flower of each branch of the cluster is female. |
| Fruit | Fruit is a green oval capsule which contains 3 dark brown seeds. |
| Others - Plant Morphology | White, sticky sap exudes from the stem when broken. |
| Etymology | Genus Jatropha means "Physician's food" and refers to the medicinal use of the plant. Species gossypifolia means cotton-like plant, possible resembling Gossypium. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Medicinal: The leaves of the plant are used for intermittent fevers, carbuncles, eczema, itches, sores on the tongues of babies, swollen mammae, stomachache, and venereal disease. The leaf decoction is used for bathing wounds. The leaf extract has been used as an anticoagulant for biochemical and hematological analyses. The sap from the plant has been used for generations in Nigeria to stop bleeding. The Fluid is applied directly to bleeding nose, gums, or skin. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Purple |
|---|---|
| Young Flush Texture(s) | Glossy / Shiny |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Margin | Palmately Lobed |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Red |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1682 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2975 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
