Genus of about 170 species of succulent perennials and evergreen shrubs, rarely trees, from dry or semi-moist areas of South Africa, Madagascar, tropical North, Central and South America, and the West Indies. Only one species is grown as a house plant - Jatropha podagrica. Jatropha (Australian Bottle Plant) is a tropical succulent shrub, to about 18 inches, stems swollen and knobby, with bristled scars; leaves orbicular-ovate, peltate, long-petioled, to 12 inches across, deeply 3-5 lobed with obtuse sinuses; cymes terminal, long-peduncled, pedicels red; flowers small, coral-red. Berries and sap are poisonous.