Jatropha gossypiifolia

Scientific name: Jatropha gossypiifolia L.

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Synonym: Jatropha gossypifolia L. var. elegans (Pohl) Muell. –Arg.

Bengali/Vernacular name: Lal bherenda, Laljeol, Erenda.

Tribal name: Ranga bhedal gach, Ranga bharenda (Chakma); Shangba, Karachuni (Marma); Balgechak, Kander (Garo); Ley-abeowe (Khumi); Kar-shu-bawn (Rakhaing); Berakos (Tripura).

English name: Bellyache-bush, Black physicnut.

Description of the plant: A soft-wooded erect shrub, up to 3 m tall. Leaves crowded near the end of branches, palmately 3-5 lobed, dark purple when young, turning olive-green with age, leaf blade cordate, petioles hair-like stalked glands. Flowers small, red in terminal corymbose cymes. Fruit a 3-lobed capsule.

Plant parts used: Stem.

Medicinal uses: A fresh juice is extracted from the stems of the plant is taken twice a day (10 ml amount each time) for three days to treat excessive menstruation.

Fresh juice extracted from the stems of the plant, after adding few drops of honey the juice is taken thrice a day (5 ml amount each time) for two weeks to treat irregular menstruation.

Pea-sized pills are made from stems of the plant is taken twice a day (one pill each time) until the liverish (liver disorder) is cured.

A paste is made with the stems of the plant is applied on the infected skin twice a day until the leprosy is cured.

Distribution: Chittagong, Noakhali, Dhaka and other districts, by the road sides and fallow lands.

Is this plant misidentified? If yes, please tell us….