Jatropha cathartica

Description

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

Caudex

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

Stems

Stems reach a length of 30 cm and have petioles up to 17 cm long.

Leaves

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

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.

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

References

1. {{GRIN
2. (2002). "Illustrated Handbook on Succulent Plants". Springer.
3. Richardson, Alfred. (2010). "Plants of Deep South Texas: A Field Guide to the Woody and Flowering Species". Texas A&M University Press.
4. {{ITIS
5. "''Jatropha berlandieri'' (Syn: ''Jatropha cathartica'')". Cactus Art Biz.
6. Richardson, Alfred. (1995). "Plants of the Rio Grande Delta". University of Texas Press.
7. Baldwin, Debra Lee. (2010). "Succulent Container Gardens". Timber Press.