J. pandurifolia is a medium sized branching shrub, to 3m tall., with leaves that are ovate to oblong, to 10cm long and 7cm wide, fiddle-shaped or with 3 sharply pointed lobes. The blade is dark green above and light green below, with petioles to 5cm long and entire margins. It has red flowers, branching at the terminal part and borne by a peduncle to 12cm long. Native to the West Indies and introduced to the country in the 1950’s, now widely spread in the Philippines.
Jatropha podagrica
Jatropha podagrica is a shrub that is tuberous at the base, with large leaf scars often widely branched. Its leaves are peltate, orbicular ovate, 5-lobed, with petioles as long as the leaves. Stem is thickened and fleshy, with conspicuous scars and dissected stupiles. It has corymbose inflorescence, and numerous orange-red unisexual flowers. Fruit is an ellipsoid capsule, 1.8cm long. It is native to Central America, and introduced to the country in the early 1900’s. Now widely cultivated.
Justicia gendarussa
A shrub 2m tall, Justicia gendarussa has branching stems, semi-woody, reddish when young, green at maturity. Leaves are opposite, lanceolate, acute or acuminate to 10cm long, green or variegated with short petioles. It is Indigenous in India, Malaysia and in the Philippines, usually grows in thickets, and propagated by stem cuttings.