There’s a plant with sap that can be used to blow bubbles.
The allure of bubbles spans the ages: Take, for example, their use in 16th-century art as a reminder of life’s fleetingness, or their 2014 induction into the National Toy Hall of Fame. And if you’re looking for a new take on the age-old toy, check out the Jatropha curcas shrub, aka the bubble bush. The tropical plant — native to Central America, Mexico, and parts of South America and the Caribbean — is known for a sticky sap that could be called Mother Nature’s own bubble solution. When plucked from the bush, branches leak a foamy liquid and can be used as an all-in-one bubble wand; just snap the twig in half and blow.
Bubble bushes get their standout sap from naturally occurring chemicals called saponins, a foaming compound used in soaps, food, and vaccines. Related to poinsettias and castor oil plants, Jatropha curcas is similarly toxic to humans and animals if eaten (and can also cause skin rashes and irritate eyes). Despite its toxicity — along with the fact that bubble bushes are considered invasive species throughout much of Asia, where they’re commonly found — the plant does have benefits beyond bubbles. Jatropha bushes are vigorous growers perfect for creating natural fences and boundaries, and they’re known for effectively combating soil erosion around waterways and in regions with heavy rainfall. Some parts of the plant are used in pharmaceuticals to treat infections and diseases such as cancer. And while research is pending, it’s suspected that these bubbling wonders could be an environmentally friendly source of biofuel.
Media Release/InterestingFacts.com
