# Jatropha dioica

Jatropha dioica is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, that is native to an area from Texas in the United States to as far south as Oaxaca in Mexico. 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 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". The roots contain riolozatrione (C$_{20}$H$_{26}$O$_3$), a diterpene 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 (6249 mg/kg).

## Habitat and range

The nominate variety occurs in southern and western Texas, Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, and from Durango to Oaxaca. J. dioica var. graminea is found from Chihuahua to Zacatecas as well in the Trans-Pecos of Texas. Its type specimen was collected in Jimulco, Coahuila.

## Uses

Jatropha dioica is traditionally used in the treatment of dental issues such as gingivitis, loose teeth, bleeding gums, and toothache. The latex is an astringent 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 species. The seeds are eaten by white-winged doves (Zenaida asiatica).

## Footnotes

* ↑ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2021). "Jatropha dioica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T144301060A208669276. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T144301060A208669276.en. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
* 1 2 3 "Jatropha dioica". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2012-07-05.
* ↑ "Jatropha dioica". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2012-07-05.
* 1 2 Manhart, Jim. "Santa Elena Canyon". Big Bend National Park. Texas A&M University. Archived from the original on 2014-08-11. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
* ↑ Dehgan, p. 48
* 1 2 3 4 Everitt, J. H.; Dale Lynn Drawe; Robert I. Lonard (2002). Trees, Shrubs, and Cacti of South Texas. Texas Tech University Press. p. 99. ISBN 978-0-89672-473-0.
* 1 2 3 4 Powell, A. Michael (1998). Trees and Shrubs of the Trans-Pecos and Adjacent Areas. University of Texas Press. pp. 223–224. ISBN 978-0-292-76573-3.
* 1 2 3 Carter, S. (2004). Urs Eggli (ed.). Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants. Vol. 5: Dicotyledons. Birkhäuser. p. 206. ISBN 978-3-540-41966-2.
* 1 2 "Leatherstem, Sangra de Drago, Sangregrado, Sangre de Grado, Tecote Prieto, Tocote Prieto, Telondillo, Tlapalezpatli, Pinon del Cerro, Coatli, Torte Amarillo, Drago Jatropha dioica". Benny Simpson's Texas Native Shrubs. Texas A & M University. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
* ↑ Agrawal, Anurag A.; Kotaro Konno (2009). "Latex: A Model for Understanding Mechanisms, Ecology, and Evolution of Plant Defense Against Herbivory" (PDF). Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics. 40: 311–331. doi:10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.110308.120307.
* ↑ Devappa, Rakshit K.; Harinder P. S. Makkar; Klaus Becker (2011). "Jatropha Diterpenes: a Review" (PDF). Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society. 88 (3): 301–322. doi:10.1007/s11746-010-1720-9. S2CID 84544718. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-22.
* ↑ McGinty, Allan; Rick Machen. Judy Winn (ed.). "Reducing Livestock Losses to Toxic Plants". Texas Agricultural Extension Service. p. 13.
* ↑ González, R. Carrillo; M.C.A. González-Chávez (November 2006). "Metal accumulation in wild plants surrounding mining wastes" (PDF). Environmental Pollution. 144 (1): 84–92. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2006.01.006. PMID 16631286. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-22. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
* ↑ "Jatropha dioica Cerv. leatherstem". USDA PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2012-07-08.
* 1 2 Dehgan, p. 53
* ↑ Kay, Margarita Artschwager (1996). Healing with Plants. University of Arizona Press. p. 168. ISBN 978-0-186-51646-5.
* ↑ "Jatropha dioica Sessé ex Cerv". Native Plant Information Network. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
* ↑ "Flora that is commonly associated with the Lophophora species". Cactus Conservation Institute. 2010-09-02. Archived from the original on 2013-04-18. Retrieved 2012-07-06.