Jatropha gossypiifolia

Common Name : Bellyache bush, Cotton-leaf physicnut, Black physicnut Botanical name : Jatropha gossypiifolia Family : Euphorbiaceae [Spurge family]

Order - Malpighiales

Genus - Jatropha

Species - gossypiifolia

Origin/Native - Tropical America, South America, Mexico, Caribbean islands

Category - Shrub

Life Cycle - Perennial

Uses - Medicinal

Good For - Outdoors, Containers, Wild Garden

Grows in - Tropical areas, Abandoned areas, River flats, Roadsides, Bank of the river

Foliage - Glossy, burgundy-red, Dark green, Three lobed leaves, Spirally arranged, Immature/new leaves-purple, sticky with dark brown hairy edges, Matured leaves - dark green color with hairy margins

Flowers - Small, Deep Red, Maroon with yellow centric, Clustered, 5 petals, it can be found in upper part of the plant

Hazards - Fruits and seeds are poisonous to humans and animals

Height - Up to 6 feet to 13 feet tall

Seed pods- Smooth, oval, Contain 3 to 4 seeds, 1.2000cm

Light Requirement - Full Sun

Stem - Thick, woody, erect, short, single-stemmed in the beginning

Plants - Shallow rooted

Special Feature - Heat tolerance

Hindi - Bherenda, Ratanjoti

Tamil - Siria Amanakku, Adalai, Atalai

Telugu - Amadam, Nala amudam, Nepalamu, Nela amudam

Kannada - Chikka kada haralu

Malayalam - Chuvanna Kadalavanakku, Simayavanakku

Manipuri - E-hidak

Bengali - Lal bherenda

Gujarathi - Erandi, Torspodla

Jatropha gossypiifolia flower

Jatropha gossypiifolia young leaves

Jatropha gossypiifolia foliage - Matured leaves

Jatropha gossypiifolia plant, Stems

Jatropha gossypiifolia flower buds

Bellyache bush plant, foliage & flowers

Cotton Leaf Physic nut

Jatropha gossypiifolia fruits & seeds

Photographs: Guna Selvi Camera: Nikon D40x Location : Srirangam, Trichy, Tamilnadu, South India, India