JATROPHA ERYTHROPODA

This member of the Euphorbiaceae family was given this name by Ferdinand Albin Pax and Käthe Hoffmann in 1910. It is found in Namibia, Botswana,South Africa and Zimbabwe, growing in a sandy or other well drained soil with some water and lots of sun. The caudex can grow to five centimetres in diameter, 16 centimetres long, the entire plant to 30 centimetres in height. The male flowers are creamy-white, the female flowers white or pinkish.

The genera name from the Greek words ἰατρός; iatros, meaning 'physician', and τροφή; trophe meaning 'nutrition', as to medicinal uses. The species name from Latin; erythr -; 'red' and poda; 'foot'; 'with red feet', referring to the reddish-tinged stems. An exposed plant by Alex Dreyer, Inaturalist.org. The fruit by Pieter Gbif.org.