Jatropha integerrima Jacq. Enum. Syst. Pl. 32 (1763)

Synonyms
Adenoropium hastatum (Jacq.) Britton & P.Wilson
Adenoropium integerrimum (Jacq.) Pohl
Adenoropium pandurifolium (Andrews) Pohl
Jatropha acuminata Desr.
Jatropha coccinea Link
Jatropha diversifolia A.Rich.
Jatropha diversifolia var. pandurifolia (Andrews) M.Gómez
Jatropha diversifolia var. pauciflora (C.Wright ex Griseb.) M.Gómez
Jatropha glaucovirens Pax & K.Hoffm.
Jatropha hastata Jacq.
Jatropha integerrima var. coccinea (Link) N.P.Balakr.
Jatropha integerrima var. hastata (Jacq.) Fosberg
Jatropha integerrima var. latifolia (Pax) N.P.Balakr.
Jatropha moluensis Sessé & Moc.
Jatropha pandurifolia Andrews
Jatropha pandurifolia var. coccinea (Link) Pax
Jatropha pandurifolia var. latifolia Pax
Jatropha pauciflora C.Wright ex Griseb.

Description
An evergreen shrub or small tree with glossy leaves and clusters of star shaped bright scarlet or vermilion flowers. The plant has a rounded or narrow domed form and gets up to 4.6 m tall with a spread of 3.1 m or so, although in cultivation it is usually smaller. It often grows shrublike with several slender trunks, but it can be pruned to a single trunk. The leaves are extremely variable; they may be entire and elliptic or oval, or they may be fiddle shaped, or they may have three sharp pointed lobes. They are bronze when young and brownish on the undersides. The flowers are about 2.5 cm across and borne in multi-flowered terminal clusters almost all year round.

Ecology
Tolerant of a wide variety of soils so long as they are well drained. It grows in full sun to partial shade and is drought tolerant.

Distribution
West Indies, especially Cuba. Now cultivated across the tropics.

Uses
Ornamental. The milky sap can irritate sensitive skin. All parts of the plant are reported to be poisonous if ingested.

Local names
English: Peregrina, Spicy Jatropha.