Monday, July 30, 2012

Bellyache bush (Jatropha dissecta [Syn: Jatropha gossipifolia])

Introduced as an ornamental plant probably during British period* and now escaped and naturalized mainly in dry lowlands. It is a native plant of Central and South America to Caribbean islands.

*A specimen available at Peradeniya herbarium collected from the gardens there in May 1887 by some unknown collector. [Flora of Sri Lanka Vol XI]