Physic nut, Purging nut
Jatropha curcas

Family: Euphorbiaceae

What it is like

A high shrub or small tree. It is deciduous and has a thin crown. It is up to 5-8 m high. It has milky sap. The leaves have 3-5 lobes. They are 6 cm long by 15 cm wide. Flowers are separately male and female on the same plant. They are small and yellowish-green. They are at the ends of the branches. The fruit is a yellow capsule. Plants are pollinated by insects. Seeds are black and 2 cm long by 1 cm wide. They are rich in oil.

It is often used for hedges. Its oil is processed as a diesel fuel substitute. The nut contains a chemical curcin which stops protein being formed. Parts of plants have been used in medicine and for control of insects and plant diseases. It has anticancer properties. Seeds are threaded on strings and burned as candles. There are 100 Jatropha species in tropical America.

Where it is found

It is native to tropical America. It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It is drought resistant. It sheds its leaves during the dry season making it suitable for arid and semi arid regions. It can grow well in areas with annual rainfalls of 300 to 1,000 mm. It is mostly in lower altitudes below 700 m and with annual temperatures above 20° to 28°C. It needs well drained soils but can grow in poor nutrient soils. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico (country/location of origin), Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Rwanda, Sahel, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Sudan, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, West Africa, West Indies, West Timor, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

CAUTION: Fruit and seeds are very poisonous. The nut has been reported as being eaten in Mexico after being boiled and roasted. This however is not recommended. Some kinds have less poison and the embryo should be removed. The young leaves have been reported as being eaten after cooking. They act as a purge.

A plant gaining in importance worldwide for its other uses, but not a significant food crop. Only occasional plants are grown in Papua New Guinea. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Leaves, caution, honey, seeds, caution

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings. Seedlings can be transplanted but it is best to plant cuttings directly where they are to grow. Using cuttings is very easy. Large cuttings should be used. It can be cut back and will re-grow.

Seeds germinate in 10 days. In humid regions near the equator flowering occurs throughout the year. Plants are not affected by daylength. It takes 90 days from flowering to fruit maturity. The tree can continue to produce nuts for 50 years.

Its other names

Local names

Adaluharalu, Adavia-midamu, Ashte, Axte, Bagbherenda, Bagherenda, Barbados nut, Bettadaharalu, Bongalibhotora, Borbandong, Chote, Chut, Erandagachh, Jahazigaba, Jamalgota, Jangli-arandi, Jarak belanda, Jarak pagar, Jirak, Kadalamanakku, Kadalavanakka, Kamsatsi, Kananaeranda, Karnocchi, Kattamanakku, Kattavanakka, Kyet-su-gyi, Laupata, Ma feng shu, Makman-yoo, Maraharalu, Mogalierenda, Mpuluka, Nepalamu, Pahadi arand, Parvata-randa, Peddandpalamu, Pichoco, Pinoncillo, Pipian, Ranayerandi, Ratanjota, Saboo-dum, Safedarand, Sajjiwan, Siyo-kyetsu, Thinbaw-kyetsu, Tun-kong, Xuta

Synonyms

Curcas purgans Medik.; Ricinus americanus Miller; Castiglionia lobata Ruiz & Pavon; Jatropha edulis Cerv.; Jatropha acerifolia Salisb.; Jatropha afrocurcas Pax; Jatropha janipha Blanco; Ricinus jarak Thunb.; Curcas adansoni Endl., ex Heynh.; Curcas indica A. Rich.; Jatropha yucatanensis Briq.; Manihot curcas (L.) Crantz; Curcas curcas (L.) Britton & Millsp.;