Common Name:

General Information

Jatropha zeyheri is a perennial, somewhat succulent, monoecious, densely hairy herb producing stems up to 30cm long that are usually erect but are sometimes prostrate[].
The plant is sometimes gathered from the wild for local medicinal use.

Known Hazards

The plants are poisonous[].

Botanical References

Range

Southern Africa - Zimbabwe, Botswana, Swaziland, S. Africa.

Habitat

Wooded grassland with scattered shrubs, in mopane woodland on sand, also in disturbed areas, at elevations of 900 - 1,250 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.30 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Internal use of this plant should be carried out with care since overdoses are poisonous[].
An infusion of the rhizome is used to treat uterine pain, irregular periods, leg and feet pain, and is given as an emetic to treat food poisoning[]. A decoction is taken to treat headache and cough, and also as a blood purifier and purgative[].
The powdered rhizome is applied externally to wounds, boils and burns to speed up the healing process[]. Young shoots are rubbed in for this purpose, or plant sap is applied[].

The daphnane diterpenoid jaherin, isolated from the plant, has shown some antimicrobial activity[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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