Jatropha cathartica

Jatropha cathartica is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, that is native to Texas in the United States and Coahuila, Nuevo León and Tamaulipas in northeastern Mexico.^[1] Common names include jicamilla (Spanish)^[3] and Berlandier's nettlespurge.^[4]

Jatropha cathartica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Euphorbiaceae
Genus:	Jatropha
Species:	J. cathartica
Binomial name
Jatropha cathartica Terán & Berland.[1]
Synonyms
Adenoropium berlandieri (Torrey) Small Jatropha berlandieri Torrey[2]

Description

Jatropha cathartica is a perennial herb that grows from an enlarged, tuberlike woody root (caudex).^[3] It is deciduous, losing both stems and leaves, and spends the winter in a dormant state.^[5]

Caudex

The large caudex is globose, pastel-white, and up to 20 cm (7.9 in) wide and 30 cm (12 in) tall (or more). It is underground in the wild but becomes exposed if cultivated in a container.^[3]

Stems

Stems reach a length of 30 cm^[3] and have petioles up to 17 centimetres (6.7 in) long.^[6]

Leaves

Leaves are gray-green,^[7] palmate, very deeply lobed five to seven times, and up to 10 cm long.^[6]

Flowers

The flowers are showy, bright pink to poppy-red, and arrayed in loose clusters at the ends of long peduncles. Each inflorescence bears individual flowers up to 12 mm wide, of which 3–4 are female and 10–12 are male. It blooms throughout the growing season from February to November, but mainly in summer.

Fruit

The fruit is a green, pea-like three-lobed capsule containing three seeds.^[5]

Habitat

Berlandier's nettlespurge grows scattered among brush, usually on clay soil in hot, arid regions. This plant has adapted to drought and can survive many days without rain. It will grow in sun or shade, but will rot in a cold, damp environment.

References

1. "Jatropha cathartica". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
2. Urs Eggli, ed. (2002). Illustrated Handbook on Succulent Plants. Vol. 5: Dicotyledons. Springer. p. 204. ISBN 978-3-540-41966-2.
3. Richardson, Alfred; Ken King (2010). Plants of Deep South Texas: A Field Guide to the Woody and Flowering Species. Texas A&M University Press. p. 225. ISBN 978-1-60344-144-5.
4. "Jatropha cathartica". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
5. "Jatropha berlandieri (Syn: Jatropha cathartica)". Cactus Art Biz. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
6. Richardson, Alfred (1995). Plants of the Rio Grande Delta. University of Texas Press. p. 141. ISBN 978-0-292-77070-6.
7. Baldwin, Debra Lee (2010). Succulent Container Gardens. Timber Press. p. 116. ISBN 978-0-88192-959-1.