Jatropha curcas L.

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Photo: Mark Hyde
Mtoko CL

Synonyms:
Common names:	Physic nut (English)
Frequency:	Local
Status:	Introduced
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:
Habitat:	In rocky places
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Native of tropical America, from Mexico and the W Indies to Chile
Zimbabwe distribution:	N,C,E
Growth form:	ST
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects (whose larvae eat this species):
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Sunday 21 October 2007
Literature:

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Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Jatropha curcas page
Flora of Mozambique: Jatropha curcas
African Plant Database: Jatropha curcas
Biodiversity Explorer (Biodiversity of southern Africa): Jatropha curcas
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Jatropha curcas
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Jatropha curcas
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Jatropha curcas
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Jatropha curcas
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Jatropha curcas
JSTOR Plant Science: Jatropha curcas
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Jatropha curcas
Tropicos: Jatropha curcas
West African Plants database: Jatropha curcas