Physic nuts

Coral plant (*Jatropha multifida*) is a tough plant that you will encounter in many gardens. It is grown for its attractive sprays of red-pink flowers, which rise above the leaves on long stems. This plant has an added garden bonus, since it is a great attractor of butterflies. Care should be taken with coral plant, since it is slightly toxic, and should never be eaten.

Leatherstem (Jatropha dioica) is indigenous to western North America. The plant contains a latex that changes from a translucent yellow color to deep crimson if you expose it to air. This accounts for the Spanish name for this species—“sangre de drago,” which means “dragon’s blood.”

Peregrina is a popular border and decorative plant because of its gorgeous red or pink flowers that bloom all year. This shrub, native to Cuba and widely propagated worldwide, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. However, extreme caution is suggested because all parts of this plant are toxic when consumed.

Jatropha gossypiifolia, commonly known as bellyache bush, black physicnut or cotton-leaf physicnut, is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. The species is native to Mexico, South America, Gujarat State (India) and the Caribbean islands. It is a declared noxious weed in Puerto Rico and is naturalised in northern Australia, including Queensland where it is listed as a Class 2 declared pest plant. It grows to 2.5 to 4 m high. The three lobed leaves are purple and sticky when young and become bright green with age. The small red flowers with yellow centres appear in clusters. These are followed by cherry-sized seed pods that are poisonous. Powdery mildew fungal disease was reported. There are many common names for Jatropha gossypiifolia including: bellyache-bush, black physicnut, and cotton-leaf physicnut in English; pinon negro, pinon colorado, and tua-tua in Spanish; medicinier noir and medicinier rouge in French; mamoninha and peao-roxo in Brazil; jarak merah and sibidigua in India.

Jicamilla (Jatropha cathartica) is a perennial flowering spurge also known as Berlandier's nettlespurge. The jicamilla is tolerant of drought but cannot survive an overabundance of moisture, as it will experience root rot. This species grows naturally in its native Texas and Mexico, but is also cultivated in containers. It can survive for months without rain in the wild.

The barbados nut (Jatropha curcas) plant is cultivated throughout the world for ornamental uses because of its rapid growth. Since cattle will not consume the leaves, it works very well as a living fence around grazing areas. Oil is extracted from the nuts and used as a torch fuel and burns so well that the fires are not affected by strong winds!

Buddha belly plant (Jatropha podagrica) is a succulent perennial herb native to tropical North and South America. Buddha belly plant is cultivated around the world as an ornamental species due to its unique appearance. This species produces a sticky sap which can be a skin irritant and the plant is toxic if ingested. It is, however, used to make dye, soap, biofuel, and fertilizer.

Arizona nettlespurge are a very diverse group of flowering succulents, shrubs, and trees. One commonality among arizona nettlespurge is their toxicity - almost all species have highly toxic seeds, and many also have a sap that irritates the skin of humans and animals alike. However, some species of arizona nettlespurge are used to make dye, baskets, and for tanning.