''Jatropha dioica'' is a species of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

in the

spurge ''Euphorbia'' is a very large and diverse genus of flowering plants, commonly called spurge, in the family Euphorbiaceae. "Euphorbia" is sometimes used in ordinary English to collectively refer to all members of Euphorbiaceae (in deference to t ...

family,

Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae, the spurge family, is a large family of flowering plants. In English, they are also commonly called euphorbias, which is also the name of a genus in the family. Most spurges, such as '' Euphorbia paralias'', are herbs, but some, ...

, that is native to

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...

in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

as well as

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

as far south as

Oaxaca Oaxaca ( , also , , from nci, Huāxyacac ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca), is one of the 32 states that compose the political divisions of Mexico, Federative Entities of Mexico. It is ...

. Common names include leatherstem and sangre de drago. The specific name refers to the dioecious nature of the plants.

Description

''Jatropha dioica'' forms colonies from subterranean rhizomes. The arching, succulent stems reach a height of 20–60 cm and have few branches. They are tough and sufficiently flexible to be tied into overhand knots without breaking. The orange rootstock spreads to a length of around 1 m. Leaves are arranged simply, alternately, or fascicularly and are clustered on short shoots extending from the stems. They are subsessile and have entire margins. The leaves of the nominate variety are linear and measure up to 6 × 1 cm, whereas the leaves of ''J. dioica'' var. ''graminea'' may be 2 to 3-lobed and measure up to 6.5 × 0.5 cm. Male inflorescences are clustered cymes. Their flowers possess 3.5 mm sepals, 5 mm petals, and 10 stamens. Female flowers are urceolate with 5 mm petals that are recurved at the tips. Blooming takes place during the spring and early summer. The fruit is a 5 × 12 mm capsule divided into 1 to 2 cells. Seeds are subglobose and measure 1 × 1 cm.

Phytochemistry

Latex Latex is an emulsion (stable dispersion) of polymer microparticles in water. Latexes are found in nature, but synthetic latexes are common as well. In nature, latex is found as a milky fluid found in 10% of all flowering plants (angiosperms ...

is produced by a non-articulated laticifer network composed of 5 to 7 cells. It changes from clear-yellow to blood red as it is exposed to air, hence its Spanish name ''sangre de drago'', "

dragon's blood Dragon's blood is a bright red resin which is obtained from different species of a number of distinct plant genera: ''Calamus'' spp. (previously ''Daemonorops'') also including ''Calamus rotang'', '' Croton'', '' Dracaena'' and ''Pterocarpus''. ...

". The roots contain riolozatrione (C₂₀H₂₆O₃), a

diterpene Diterpenes are a class of chemical compounds composed of four isoprene units, often with the molecular formula C20H32. They are biosynthesized by plants, animals and fungi via the HMG-CoA reductase pathway, with geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate being ...

with antimicrobial properties. Sheep and goats experience severe gastroenteritis, vomiting, and abdominal pain upon consumption of the plant. Leatherstem is able to safely absorb a relatively high amount of

zinc Zinc is a chemical element with the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. Zinc is a slightly brittle metal at room temperature and has a shiny-greyish appearance when oxidation is removed. It is the first element in group 12 (IIB) of the periodi ...

(6249 mg/kg).

Habitat and range

The nominate variety occurs in southern and western

Tamaulipas Tamaulipas (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tamaulipas ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas), is a state in the northeast region of Mexico; one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Federal Entiti ...

, Nuevo León, and from Durango to

. ''J. dioica'' var. ''graminea'' is found from Chihuahua to

Zacatecas , image_map = Zacatecas in Mexico (location map scheme).svg , map_caption = State of Zacatecas within Mexico , coordinates = , coor_pinpoint = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type ...

Dehgan, p. 53 as well in the

Trans-Pecos The Trans-Pecos, as originally defined in 1887 by the Texas geologist Robert T. Hill, is the portion of Texas that lies west of the Pecos River. The term is considered synonymous with Far West Texas, a subdivision of West Texas. The Trans-Peco ...

of Texas. Its type specimen was collected in Jimulco, Coahuila.Dehgan, p. 53

Uses

''Jatropha dioica'' is traditionally used in the treatment of dental issues such as

gingivitis Gingivitis is a non-destructive disease that causes inflammation of the gums. The most common form of gingivitis, and the most common form of periodontal disease overall, is in response to bacterial biofilms (also called plaque) that is attached ...

, loose teeth, bleeding gums, and toothache. The latex is an

astringent An astringent (sometimes called adstringent) is a chemical that shrinks or constricts body tissues. The word derives from the Latin ''adstringere'', which means "to bind fast". Calamine lotion, witch hazel, and yerba mansa, a Californian pla ...

and may also be used as a red dye. Leatherstem is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental in xeriscapes or rock gardens.

Ecology

Sangre de drago acts as a nurse plant for small cacti such as ''

Lophophora ''Lophophora'' () is a genus of spineless, button-like cacti. Its area range covers southern through northeastern and north-central Mexico to Querétaro in central Mexico. The species are extremely slow growing, sometimes taking up to thirty ye ...

'' species. The seeds are eaten by

white-winged dove The white-winged dove (''Zenaida asiatica'') is a dove whose native range extends from the Southwestern United States through Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. They are large for doves, and can be distinguished from similar doves by th ...

s (''Zenaida asiatica'').

Footnotes

References

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q12060859 dioica Plants described in 1794 Flora of Chihuahua (state) Flora of the Chihuahuan Desert Flora of Durango Flora of Oaxaca Flora of Texas Flora of Zacatecas Taxa named by Martín Sessé y Lacasta Dioecious plants