Original photo by butsasom91/ Shutterstock
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.
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It's a factBubbles may be able to help bees with their work. In a 2020 study, researchers found that pollen-filled bubbles sprayed into pear trees helped produce just as much fruit as trees that were hand-pollinated — a potential time-saving strategy for regions with honeybee shortages.
Bubble bushes get their standout sap from naturally occurring chemicals called saponins, a foaming compound used in soaps and food. 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.
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Famed physicist ______ used bubbles to develop his theory of light.
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Famed physicist Sir Isaac Newton used bubbles to develop his theory of light.
There’s a plant that produces shampoo-like suds.
Bitter ginger goes by a few names: the Latin Zingiber zerumbet, the Hawaiian “Awapuhi Kuahiwi,” or the common term “shampoo ginger.” Regardless of the alias, this versatile plant is sought out for its multipurpose tropical bloom. Found in moist environments near rivers and waterfalls, the pine cone-like flowers mature each spring and produce an oozy liquid that can be used as a fragrant replacement for shampoo. Native to Asia, the plant is also found in Hawaii, where botanists consider them “canoe plants,” the term for greenery that was originally brought to the island by traveling Polynesian settlers. Bitter ginger is deeply rooted in Hawaiian culture — it’s believed to be an earthly form of the life-creating deity Kane — and all parts of the plant are used. Roots add flavor to food and are used in herbal medicines, leaves are used as eco-friendly food wraps, and its oils are the star of perfumes and cosmetics.
Nicole Garner Meeker is a writer and editor based in St. Louis. Her history, nature, and food stories have also appeared at Mental Floss and Better Report.
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