Jatropha podagrica Hook.

  • Authority

    Dehgan, Bijan. 2012. . Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 110: 1--274. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Euphorbiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Jatropha podagrica Hook.

  • Type

    Type. Panama. 1845-51, B. Seemann s.n. (lectotype: BM, designated A. Carter in Eggli, 2002: 210).

  • Description

    Species Description - Shrubs, 1-2 m tall. Stems: gray, erect, sparsely branched, caudiciform and succulent, bark peeling in papery sheets, covered with persistent, hardened, outwardly spinose stipules; latex clear in younger shoots but cloudy to reddish in older branches. Leaves: persistent or semievergreen (leaves abscise in response to drought or low temperatures), stipules persistent, branched glands that become indurate with age, 3-4 mm; petioles stout, 16-28 cm long and 2.5-4.5 mm in diam.; blades orbicular, peltate, shallowly 3- to 5-lobed, 14-22.5(-32) x 8.5-19(-23.5) cm, lobes 6-10 cm wide, membranous to ± coriaceous, margins entire, base orbicular, apex acute-acuminate, venation palmate with 7-9 primary veins from center, glabrous on both surfaces. Inflorescences: terminal, compact, capitate cymes, peduncles stout, (6-)12.5-36 cm, paracladia orange-red, bracts 1-3 mm long, margins entire, glabrous; pedicels orange-red, 1.5-3 mm long. Staminate flowers: sepals ovate, 1.5-2.5 x 1-1.2 mm, connate to ca. ½, margins entire, apex round, glabrous on both surfaces; corollas rotate-cupulate, orange-red, petals 6-8(-12) x 2.5-3 mm, distinct, obovate, apex round, glabrous on both surfaces; stamens (6-)8(-9 tol4), monodelphous-uniseriate, 3-4 mm long, distinct. Pistillate flowers: like staminate but sepals 1.5-2.7 x 1.3-1-7 mm, distinct; petals 7.0-11.0 x 2.5-3.2 mm; carpels 3, styles 1-1.1 mm long, distinct. Capsules: spherical, 1.3-1.5 cm diam., glabrous, explosively dehiscent. Seeds: dark to golden brown, oval, 9-11 x 5.5-6 mm, caruncle prominent.

  • Discussion

    Local names and uses. Bottle euphorbia, Buddha’s belly, gout plant, goutstalk nettlespurge, gout stick, gouty-stalked jatropha, Guatemalan rhubarb, purging nut, and tartogo are but a few of the common names. Jatropha podagrica is one of the best known species of the genus because of its large peltate leaves and attractive orange-red flowers and inflorescences. It is cultivated extensively as an ornamental and because of its explosive fruit, it often spreads and eventually becomes naturalized. It is extensively used for medicinal purposes, including treatment of ailments of the brain, nervous system, and kidneys; as a diuretic and a laxative; as well as an antibiotic for bacterial and fungal infections. It is also reputed to be a cure for malaria and a number of other diseases. There are numerous research publications on medicinal uses of this species, any discussion of which is beyond the scope of this monograph. All parts of the plant, but particularly seeds, are reported to be highly toxic (http://www.inchem.org/ documents/pims/plant/jpoc.htm), causing dehydration and cardiovascular collapse as a result of hemorrhagic gastroenteritis and depression of the central nervous system. Hexane extract from the bark of J. podagrica has shown remarkable antibacterial activity as compared to standard antibiotics (Alyelaagbe et al., 2000; Bhaskarwar et al., 2008)

    In describing Jatropha podagrica, Müller Argoviensis (1866) referred to the color illustration in Hooker’s protologue (1848) without specifically designating it as the type. He cited Seemann (Bot. of H.M.S. Herald, p. 102), C. Dorat in Hook hb (K), C. Hoffmann 780 (B), and Fredrichsthal 933J (W), also without designating any of them as the type. Carter (in Eggli, 2002: 210) designated B. Seemann s.n. (BM) from Panama as the type of J. podagrica. There is some validity to this choice because, in reference to Hooker’s protore, Seeman (1852-1857) noted “By mistake it was stated in ‘Botanical Magazine’ that Purdie introduced this plant from Santa Marta, whilst it was I who first sent the living specimens of this species to the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew, whence they were distributed among various horticultural establishments.”

    The large peltate leaves of Jatropha podagrica and J. platyphylla, a native of Mexico, are sometimes indistinguishable on herbarium sheets and are often confused with one another. The specimen Plantae Novae Hispaniae, 1787-1795-1804, Sessé & Mociño 4231 (type of J. platyphylla MA, photo F) represents a good example. McVaugh’s annotation correctly notes that the inflorescence is that of Jatropha podagrica Hook. Actually the leaf in the attached packet is from J. podagrica, as well. The reddish color of the veins in J. platyphylla distinguish it from J. podagrica with yellowish green veins.

    Although Jatropha podagrica shares peltate leaves with some other species of section Peltatae, its floral characteristics are more akin to those of J. multifida and J. cathartica than of other species in the section. There is also chemical evidence that suggests closer affinity of these taxa. Adolf et al. (1984) noted that polyunsaturated, diterpene esters are found only in seeds of J. podagrica and J. multifida.

    Distribution and Ecology: Mexico through Central America to Colombia and Ecuador, in many areas escaped from cultivation and naturalized in waste places in the lowlands of seasonally dry, subtropical forests or often growing in rocks and old lava fields. (See Fig. 49, below.) Even though J. podagrica was described from plants of Santa Maria, Colombia, its origin in not known. 1 agree with Webster (1987) that the species is most likely native from Mexico to eastern Guatemala and Nicaragua, where it is found in the wild state on rocky locations at lower elevations. Flowering and fruiting all year in warmer climates.

  • Distribution

    Atlantida Honduras Central America| Chiapas Mexico North America| Oaxaca Mexico North America| Veracruz Mexico North America| Izabal Guatemala Central America| Zacapa Guatemala Central America| Jalapa Guatemala Central America| Comayagua Honduras Central America| Morazán Honduras Central America| San Salvador El Salvador Central America| Estelí Nicaragua Central America| Chinandega Nicaragua Central America| Masaya Nicaragua Central America| San José Costa Rica Central America| Chocó Colombia South America| El Oro Ecuador South America| Panama Central America|