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Jatropha afrotuberosa

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Photo by Urs Eggli from his book; Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants; Dicotyledons.

Author: 

A. Radcliffe-Smith & R. Govaerts, 1997

Family: 

EUPHORBIACEAE

Origin: 

Central African Republic, Chad, Sudan, Uganda

Soil: 

Mix

Water: 

Medium

Sun: 

Maximum

Thickness: 

4-? Centimetres

Height: 

75 Centimetres

Flower: 

Greenish White

Propagate: 

Seeds

Names: 

-

Synonyms: 

Jatropha tuberosa, Pax 1894 (invalid)

This member of the Euphorbiaceae family was given this name by Alan Radcliffe-Smith and Rafaël Herman Anna Govaerts in 1997. It is found in the Central African Republic, Chad, Sudan and Uganda, growing in a well drained soil with some water and lots of sun. The caudex can grow to four centimetres or more in diameter, the entire plant to 75 centimetres in height. The flowers are greenish white.

The genera name from the Greek words ἰατρός; iatros, meaning 'physician', and τροφή; trophe meaning 'nutrition', as to medicinal uses. The species name is an indication is is African and have a tuberous root.