Shrub or small tree to 5 m high, deciduous, perennial. Indumentum of simple hairs. Stipules entire, subulate. Leaves stalked, not peltate; leaf stalks 22-55 mm long; blade broadly ovate, 25-180 mm long, 20-180 mm wide, with 3-5 short lobes; lobe tips acute, shortly acuminate, obtuse or rounded; base cordate to lobed; margins entire, without glands. Fruits ellipsoid, 22-30 mm long, 20-24 mm wide. The seeds are used as a purgative.
J. gossypifolia L., Bellyache Bush (Cotton-leaf Physic Nut), from C America is a shrub to 3 m high, evergreen, perennial. Indumentum of stalked glands. Stipules multifid. Leaves stalked, not peltate; leaf stalks 25-104 mm long; blade 3-5- palmatifid, 40-130 mm long, 20-120 mm wide; lobe tips acute to shortly acuminate; base cordate to abruptly narrowed; margins entire, glandular. Fruits ellipsoid, 10-12 mm long, 11-15 mm wide. Poisonous to domestic livestock.
J. integerrima Jacq. from Cuba is a shrub to 2.5 m high, evergreen, perennial. Indumentum of simple hairs. Stipules entire, subulate. Leaves stalked, not peltate; leaf stalks 4-20 mm long; blade elliptic or 1-3-palmatipartite, 30-80 mm long, 5-25 mm wide; lobe tips longacuminate to apiculate; base narrowed to wedge-shaped; margins entire, without glands. Fruits not seen.
J. podagrica Hook., Coral Plant, from Mexico is a shrub to 1.5 m high, deciduous, perennial. Indumentum of simple hairs, but mostly hairless. Stipules multifid. Leaves stalked, peltate; leaf stalks 50-170 mm long; blade 3-5- palmatifid, 90-220 mm long, 70-250 mm wide; lobe tips acute to obtuse; base lobed to rounded; margins entire, without glands. Fruits ellipsoid, 15-17 mm long, 14-16 mm wide.
C and S America.
Source: (2002). Euphorbiaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.