Description: Common name: Australian bottle plant, Physic nut, Buddha belly plant Botanical name:
Jatropha podagrica - [ (JAT-roh-fuh) or (jat-ROH-fuh) the Greek iatrós (doctor) and trophé (food), referring to its nutritious qualities (when consumed in small amounts); (pod-AG-ree-kuh) meaning foot swollen ] Family:
Euphorbiaceae (castor, euphorbia, or spurge family) - [ (yoo-for-bee-AY-see-ay) the Euphorbia family, named for Euphorbus, Greek physician to Juba II, King of Mauretania ] Origin: Tropical America Jatropha is a genus of approximately 175 succulents, shrubs and trees (some are deciduous, like Jatropha curcas L.), from the family Euphorbiaceae. Plants from the genus natively occur in Africa, North America, and the Caribbean. Originating in the Caribbean, the jatropha was spread as a valuable hedge plant to Africa and Asia by Portuguese traders. Currently the tree is widely used for getting biodiesel in India, and is being promoted as a very easy to grow biofuel crop in hundreds of projects throughout India and the third world. The rail line between Mumbai and Delhi is planted with Jatropha and the train itself runs on 15-20% biodiesel. The mature small trees bear male and female inflorescence, and do not grow very tall. Jatropha podagrica, was used to tan leather and produce a red dye in Mexico and the Southwestern United States. May also be used as a house plant. This genus is also known as: Adenorhopium Rchb. ::: Adenoropium Pohl ::: Castiglionia Ruiz & Pav. ::: Collenucia Chiov. ::: Curcas Adans. ::: Jatropa Scop., orth. var. ::: Loureira Cav. ::: Mesandrinia Raf. ::: Mesandrinia Ortega ::: Zimapania Engl. & Pax Courtesy: -
Flowers of India -
Dave's Garden -
TopTropicals -
EcoPort -
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Note: Identification attempted; may not be accurate. Date: 16 December 2006, 11:25. Source:
Buddha Belly plant. Author:
Dinesh Valke from Thane, India. Camera location
19° 12′ 49.19″ N, 72° 58′ 52.44″ E View all coordinates using:
OpenStreetMap 19.213664; 72.981233.
