Bellyache Bush

Jatropha gossypifolia

Alternative Name(s): Cotton-Leaf Physic Nut

Family: Euphorbiaceae.

Form: Shrub

Origin: Native of tropical central and South America and Caribbean islands.

Flowers/Seedhead: Flowerhead branched. Flowers about 1 cm across. Flowers most of year but chiefly late summer and autumn.

Description: Erect shrub or small tree to 4 m high, deciduous in dry conditions. Stems hairy, non-woody. Leaves initially purplish but green when mature, sticky, 5.5–14 cm long, 7.5–12.5 cm wide, rounded in outline, leaf stalks 4.5–11.5 cm long. Fruit an oblong capsule, initially green, ripening dark brown, mostly3 or 4 seeded. Seeds brown, slightly mottled. Roots fleshy and tuberous.

Distinguishing features: Distinguished by watery sap; leaf margins and leaf stalks with gland-tipped hairs; leaves alternate, margins deeply 3–5 lobed; petals purple with yellow base; fruit a 3-lobed capsule to 1.2 cm long, seeds to 0.8 cm long. Roots fleshy and tuberous.

Dispersal: Spread mostly by explosive release of seed. Also spreads by water-dispersed seed and by suckers.

Confused With: Castor Oil Plant, Ricinus communis, has leaves with 7–9lobes and flowers in spikes. Physic Nut, Jatropha curcas, also naturalised in northern Australia, has leaf margins and leaf stalks without gland-tipped hairs and petals that are yellow to green.