Jatropha, an unusual flower that resembles noble red coral. Renaissance collectors believed coral was a flexible plant that turned into stone once removed from the sea.
The blood red coral was also believed to have come into existence when Perseus, flying over the sea on Pegasus, held up the decapitated Medusa's head, which dripped blood into the water with hissing sounds, causing the coral to grow.
* Perseus with Head of Medusa By: Celini
Today, the plant truly has some powerful properties having the potential to develop a new bio fuel industry, particularly for jets. Read this Business Week article and this site from the Jatropha Alliance. Pretty spectacular!