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Succulent shrub
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The bottle plant not only adds value to your attractive garden but also has medicinal properties
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SUCCULENT, PERENNIAL and evergreen shrub belonging to the family Euphoribiaceae, Jatropha Podagrica is originally from South Africa, South America and West Indies. Also known as Bottle Plant, it has tuberous root stocks, with a short swollen grey trunk and grey stems covered with spine-like stipules, three to five lobed, round-ovate leaves are produced at the tips.
The plant has very tough leaves 18-30 cms across, dark green above glaucous white beneath. Terminal branched, flat topped cymes of numerous bisexual small brilliant coral red flowers one-cm across are borne on long, green, sometimes red tinted stalks in summer. It flowers throughout the summer. Seeds are borne in oval-shaped capsules.
Jatropha is also called `gout plant' and `bottle plant' because of its swollen trunk; is very hardy and it does not need much care. The plant grows in garden soil mixed with compost, leaf mould and grit. Provide full light with shade from hot sun. Water plenty during active growth and sparingly during rest period. During rest period, the plant sheds leaves and puts on new ones later. Re-pot when potbount, i.e. after two years. Jatropha makes a convenient houseplant. Outdoors, plant it in a shrub border or use as hedging. Propagation is by seeds or cuttings. All parts contain a milky latex, contact with which irritate skin. Jatropha Podagrica is reputed to cure gout and arthritis. Podagrica in Greek means `swollen foot'. Like most succulents, it is very handy and is easy to maintain as a houseplant. The plant should be kept in semi-shade.
CHITRA RADHAKRISHNAN
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