Jatropha dhofarica Radcl.-Sm.

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Dhofari Jatropha

In Omani studies: Miller & Morris (1988) wrote that: "Jatropha dhofarica is extremely common throughout Dhofar in the wetter areas, and was one of the more important and useful trees of Dhofar. Two kinds are distinguished locally: the 'female', whose sap [J: josot] oozes out in striking deep-red droplets, and the 'male', whose sap flows more copiously and in colour is clear to greeny-yellow. The 'female' tends to grow in the drier and harsher areas and is much more prickle-covered and bristly than the 'male', which has much larger leaves, more generous foliage generally, and bigger and better fruit. Medicinally, the sap of the 'female' shrub was seen as being the more powerful and effective. It is the colour and texture of fresh blood, though with slight variation between plants and types of terrain. This was used as an antiseptic and was painted over sores, wounds, ulcers and other cutaneous ... eruptions. It was also applied to fresh wounds as a haemostatic, and was used in this way particularly to treat the wounds of circumcision to speed the healing process and prevent infection. The sap dries to form a clear hard skin over the lesion, protecting the damaged skin underneath. This red sap was also used to anoint swellings, especially glandular [J: rebbot] ones, such as those resulting from a badly infected throat [J: halbol] or a severe infection of the ear [J: inkif]. The sap was also dripped into an infected and sore eye, or an eye that had been injured, or had had a foreign body removed and was inflamed and painful as a result. The strained sap was put into the eye of a patient suffering from J: demsit, a condition which is the result of repeated and insufficiently treated attacks of conjunctivitis, and in which the eyelashes begin to fall out, the eye itself sppears shrunken, and the eyelids are swollen and inflamed. The clearer sap of the 'male' plant was used in particular to treat the eye condition known as J: kemsos, when the eyes have become dry and aching after a severe and prolonged attack of untreated conjunctivitis. The buds and flowering tips were crushed and put into and around a deep wound to cleanse and disinfect it. New growing tips were rubbed between the palms and over the body, with special attention to the armpits, as a deodorant. The leaves of the larger-leafed variety are very moisture laden during and after the rains, and were much used as a cleansing and washing agent. The fruit that grow at the twig tips were gathered and split open to reveal the four creamy large kernels inside. These were removed and eaten, and have a delicious fresh and nutty flavour, reminiscent of kernels of maize. Cases of pruritus were also soothed with a lotion made from the sap of either variety. The dead wood of the plants was collected, crushed down and tied in bundles to be used as roofing material, tied root end uppermost, for both human and livestock shelters. This roofing absorbed moisture but prevented wet from entering the building". (Ref. Plants of Dhofar). In addition, Ghazanfar (2007) mentioned that: "The plant has been used in traditional medicine for its sap, which is applied over wounds and skin sores as an antiseptic and to stop bleeding, the sap drying over the wound forming a sort of scab. It is also dipped into sore eyes and ears to reduce swelling and infection. Crushed flowering tips and buds have been put in wounds to stop bleeding, and new shoots rubbed on hands and body as a deodorant, and the leaves used as a cleansing and washing agent". (Ref. Flora of Oman, vol.2). Furthermore, Pickering & Patzelt (2008) stated that: "The sap is used as an antiseptic and to provide protection to cut surfaces. The seeds are edible with a pleasant nutty flavour". (Ref. Field Guide to the Wild Plants of Oman; 2008). In Oman Plant Red Data Book, Patzelt (2015) wrote that: "The sap was used as an antiseptic on sores, wounds and ulcers and to treat skin problems. Applied as a haemostatic on fresh wounds and for eye infections". (Ref. Oman Plant Red Data Book; 2015).

*Ghazanfar, S. (2007). Flora of the Sultanate of Oman, vol.2: Crassulaceae – Apiaceae. Meise, National Botanic Garden of Belgium (Scripta Botanica Begica, Vol. 36). ISBN 9789072619747 ISSN 0779-2387. *https://en.wikipedia.org *https://books.google.com.om *Miller, A., Morris, M. (1988). Plants of Dhofar, the Southern Region of Oman: Traditional, Economic, and Medicinal Uses. Published by Office of the Adviser for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Sultanate of Oman; ISBN 10: 0715708082 ISSN 13: 9780715708088. *Patzelt, A. (2015). Oman Plant Red Data Book. Published by Diwan of Royal Court, Sultanate of Oman. Oman Botanic Garden Publication No. 1. ISBN 978-99969-50-10-0. *POWO (2023). ""Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org