Jatropha is a variety of blooming plants in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. Maheshwari s Jatropha is an undershrub 1.5-2 m tall. It is named for Prof. Panchanan Maheshwari (1904-1966), Indian botanist. It is found in the costal territories of Tamilnadu and Kerala in India. It develops in permeable, red soil in summer. The caudex can develop to 30 cm.