Jatropha curcas L.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
By Mazowe River, between camp and weir, Hippo Pools

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Synonyms:
Common names:	Physic nut (English)
Description:	A ± glabrous shrub or small tree to 6(-8) m. Stems fleshy, copiously emitting a watery or ± milky sap when cut. Leaves long-petiolate; lamina broadly ovate in outline, usually shallowly 5-lobed, sometimes unlobed, ± glabrous, dark green; base cordate; margin usually entire, but sometimes remotely and shallowly toothed, 7-9-nerved from the base. Inflorescence ± corymb-like with a peduncle to ± 5 cm. Fruit ellipsoid, scarcely 3-lobed, 2.5-3 cm long by 2 cm in diameter.
Notes:	Grown for the oil-rich seeds and as a hedge and occasionally occurring as a naturalised escape.
Derivation of specific name:
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Native of tropical America, from Mexico and the West Indies to Chile
Growth form(s):	Tree.
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Image last updated:	Monday 16 September 2013
Literature:	Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 458. (Includes a picture). Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 252. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 42. Radcliffe-Smith, A. (1996). Euphorbiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(4) Pages 259 - 260.

Other sources of information about Jatropha curcas:

Our websites:

Flora of Burundi: Jatropha curcas
Flora of Caprivi: Jatropha curcas
Flora of Malawi: Jatropha curcas
Flora of Mozambique: Jatropha curcas
Flora of Zambia: Jatropha curcas
Flora of Zimbabwe: Jatropha curcas

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Jatropha curcas
African Plant Database: Jatropha curcas
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Jatropha curcas
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Jatropha curcas
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Jatropha curcas
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Jatropha curcas
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Jatropha curcas
JSTOR Plant Science: Jatropha curcas
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Jatropha curcas
Plants of the World Online: Jatropha curcas
Tropicos: Jatropha curcas
Wikipedia: Jatropha curcas