42 Plant Protection Quarterly Vol.22(2) 2007 to green to yellow, which is indicative of the Old World Taxa (Dehgan and Webster 1979). Species of Jatropha that have natural- Review ized in Australia include physic nut (J. curcas L.), peregrina (J. integerrima Jacq.), coral plant (J. multifi da L.), Buddha belly (J. podagrica Hook.), and leatherstem (J. dioica Sesse.) (HERBRECS 1998). In Australia, there appears to be several The biology of Australian weeds biotypes with morphological, phenologi- cal, and physiological differences (Pitt and 47. Jatropha gossypiifolia L. Miller 1991, Bebawi and Campbell 2004). Currently three biotypes are recognized F.F. BebawiA,B, J.S. VitelliA,B, S.D. CampbellA,B, W.D. VoglerA,B, C.J. LockettA,B, in Queensland (Bebawi and Campbell B.S. GraceC,B, B. LukitschC,B and T.A. HeardD,B 2004). These include Queensland bronze A Tropical Weeds Research Centre, Department of Natural Resources and leaf and Queensland green leaf, which oc- Water, Charters Towers, Queensland 4820, Australia. cur from Rockhampton north to Cairns and Queensland purple leaf, which oc- B CRC for Australian Weed Management. C curs from Cairns north to Cape York. Two Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts, Darwin, distinct biotypes (Katherine green and Northern Territory 0831, Australia. Darwin purple) are also reported in the D CSIRO Entomology Long Pocket Labs, Indooroopilly, Queensland 4068, Northern Territory (Pitt and Miller 1991, Australia. Bebawi and Campbell 2004). Biotypes ex- isting in Western Australia have not yet been investigated. Detailed taxonomic, genetic and eco- Name purga del fraile, medicinier noir, medic- logical studies are required to verify and Botanical name cinier rouge (Caribbean, Puerto Rico) (Lio- establish differences among the Australian The genus name Jatropha combines the gier 1990), lapalapa pupa, Accra fence tree biotypes. Such studies would also help de- Greek iatros, meaning physician, with tro- (Africa) (Irvine 1961), Pinon Negro (Peru) termine whether there is only one variety pheia, mother’s milk, hinting at the me- (Pinedo et al. 1997), Purgue de fraile, tua present or if some of the noted biotypes dicinal properties of the plant (Parsons tua, piñon colarado, pinon Negro, piñon could in fact be different varieties. Any dif- and Cuthbertson 2001). The species name rojo, quelite del fraile, frailecillo (Latin ferences found may be important to weed ‘gossypiifolia’ is a combination of the Latin America), and pinhão roxo (Brazil). control, particularly with regard to the se- gossypium, meaning cotton, and folium, lection of biological control agents. suggesting that the leaves appear similar Taxonomy and related species in Different varieties of bellyache bush to those of the cotton plant (Parsons and Australia exist outside of Australia (Backer and Ba- Cuthbertson 2001). Synonyms of Jatropha The genus Jatropha belongs to the tribe khuizen van der Brink 1963, Dehgan 1982, gossypiifolia are: Adenoropium gossypiifolium Jatrophieae of Crotonoideae in the fam- Sreenivasa Rao and Raju 1994). For exam- (L.) (Pohl 1827), A. elegans (Pohl 1827), J. ily Euphorbiaceae and the genus contains ple, J. gossypiifolia L. var. elegans was listed elegans (Klotzsch 1853), and J. staphysagri- approximately 186 species (Govaerts et al. in the fl ora of Java (Backer and Bakhuizen folia (Miller 1754). 2000). Dehgan and Webster (1979) divided van der Brink (1963) and three varieties, the genus into two subgenera (Curcas and J. gossypiifolia var. elegans, J. gossypiifolia Common names Jatropha) with 10 sections and 10 subsec- var. gossypiifolia and J. gossypiifolia var. In Australia and America, Jatropha gossypi- tions. They postulated that physic nut (J. staphysagrifolia (Mill.) Müll. were identi- ifolia L. is most commonly known as belly- curcas L.) is the most primitive form of the fi ed in the United States (Dehgan 1982). ache bush (Everist 1974, Dehgan 1982, Par- genus and that J. gossypiifolia evolved from Sreenivasa Rao and Raju (1994) reported sons and Cuthbertson 2001). Other names the physic nut. The facultative annual J. gossypiifolia L. (var. gossypiifolia and var. used in countries where it is found in- growth habit (apical dominance absent) elegans (Pohl) Müll.Arg.) from India. clude: cotton-leaf physic nut, castor bean of bellyache bush is considered a more (Queensland) (Kleinschmidt and Johnson phylogenetically advanced growth habit Description 1987), red physic nut (Burkill 1994), cotton- than the arborescent growth habit (apical Bellyache bush is an erect, woody, de- leaf jatropha, purging nut, Spanish physic- dominance present) of physic nut (Dehgan ciduous, tropical or sub-tropical perennial nut tree, wild physic nut, American purg- and Webster 1979). A taxonomic character- shrub (Figure 1). It is diploid and the ba- ing nut, wild cassava (BoDD 2004), damar istic of the genus Jatropha is the occurrence sic chromosome number is 11 (2n = 22) merah; jarak kosta merah, red physic nut, of either latex-cells or latex vessels (Rao (Nanda 1962, Datta 1967, de Padua et al. jarak kling, jarak ulung, kaleke bacu (Indo- and Malaviya 1964). 1999). Plants commonly grow between 2 to nesia) (BoDD 2004), jarak beremah, jarak Although most Jatropha species are na- 3 m high (Parsons and Cuthbertson 2001), hitam, jarak merah (Malaysia) (de Padua tive to the New World (the Americas), no but can reach up to 4 m in height under et al. 1999), lansi-lansinaan, tagumbau- complete revision of the Old World (Eu- favourable conditions (Bebawi and Camp- a-nalabaga, tuba-tuba (Philippines) (de rope, Asia, and Africa) Jatropha exists (Hel- bell 2002b, Vitelli and Madigan 2004). Padua et al. 1999), nhao luat (Laos) (Padua ler 1996). Hemming and Radcliffe-Smith Bellyache bush exhibits impressive fo- et al. 1999), sabuu daeng, sabu lueat, salot (1987) revised 25 Somalian species, all of liar, fl oral and stem diversity. The stems daeng (Thailand) (de Padua et al. 1999), the subgenus Jatropha, and placed them in are thick, rather soft, coarsely hairy, 1–2 m d[aaf]u kai ti[as) (Vietnam) (de Padua et six sections and fi ve subsections. The base long and exude a watery sap when dam- al. 1999), red fi g-nut fl ower, sibidigua, Tua- colour of the petals of Australian biotypes aged (Parsons and Cuthbertson 2001). The Tua, Badigaba, Baigaba, Benderi, Lanka- is predominantly red, which is indica- number of stems per plant can range from jada, red varendra, (India) (Parrotta 2001), tive of their American origin as opposed one to two or more (Csurhes 1999, Parsons Plant Protection Quarterly Vol.22(2) 2007 43 and Cuthbertson 2001). Stems are green relatively large anthers in the upper tier are endospermic, contain oil, and ovoid when young, turning bright crimson red at and fi ve relatively small in the lower. The in shape (Figure 4) (Singh 1970, de Padua fl owering in some biotypes but invariably anthers are dorsifi xed. Pollen grains are et al. 1999), they exhibit considerable vari- turn ‘grey’ with age across all biotypes. spherical, bright yellow with a sticky, oily ation (Liogier 1990, Howard 1989, Burkill Leaves of bellyache bush are arranged coating (Reddi and Reddi 1983). 1994, Parrotta 2001, Bebawi and Campbell alternately along the stem (Parsons and Female flowers are quite similar in 2002a). Cuthbertson 2001). Leaves may be bright shape to male fl owers but they are larger, When dissected, seeds have a thin, green, dark green, bright or dark bronze, with a diameter of up to 9 mm. Sepals as outer whitish-fleshy envelope (exote- bright red or bright purplish-red depend- well as petals are larger than those on the gmen) that surrounds a thin and shell-like ing on biotype and leaf maturity (Pitt and male. Styles are 3–4, slender dilated into a testa (Figure 5). A longitudinal section of Miller 1991, Burkill 1994, Parsons and capitate, bifi d stigma. The stigmas are pale mature seeds show an exotegmen con- Cuthbertson 2001, Bebawi et al. 2005b). green and very sticky (Reddi and Reddi nected to the caruncle at the micropylar Leaf petioles are 2–7 cm long and the leaf 1983). region (proximal end) of the seed by dense blades are palmately 3–5 lobed, generally There are fi ve united sepals, which are 45–90 × 50–130 mm in size, and more or ovate to lanceolate, acuminate with stalked less elliptic (Figure 2) (Wheeler 1992). The capitate glands on the margins, distinctly lamina is glabrous and the leaf margin is imbricate and 4 mm long. They are green denticulate with venations ending in stipi- in the green biotype or with margins tate glandular hairs. Leaf venation is white tinged with bronze in the bronze biotype in the green biotypes and shades of red and with purple in the purple biotype. in the other biotypes (F.F. Bebawi unpub- The fi ve petals are reddish in Queensland lished observations). biotypes and Darwin biotype but dark Infl orescences are glandular and hairy purple in Katherine biotype, obovate and (de Padua et al. 1999). Flowers are pedi- 3–5 mm long. Sepals touch at the base to cellate, terminal and occur in corymbose form a short green tube and have stipitate cymes. Flower bracts are linear-lanceo- marginal glands (F.F. Bebawi unpublished late with glandular margins (Dehgan and 2006). Webster 1979). Flowers are radially sym- The fruit of bellyache bush has three metrical and loaded with nectaries. Flow- lobes (locules) (Figure 3). It is an explo- ers of the Queensland biotypes are small, sively dehiscent capsule with a single seed generally dark red or maroon with bright per locule and axile placentation. It is glo- yellow centres. Those of the Northern Ter- bose, pedicellate, generally bright green Figure 2. Digitately lobed leaves of ritory are dark purple with dull yellow and woody at maturity, turning pale green bellyache bush. centres in the Katherine biotype or light or tan when ripe (Berg 1975, Dehgan and red with bright yellow centres in the Dar- Webster 1979, Burkill 1994, Parrotta 2001).