Jatropha curcas L.

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Jatropha curcas

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

Jatropha curcas

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

Jatropha curcas

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

Jatropha curcas

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

Jatropha curcas

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

Jatropha curcas

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

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

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 West Indies to Chile
Zimbabwe distribution: N,C,E
Growth form(s): Tree.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Images 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 Caprivi: Jatropha curcas
Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Jatropha curcas
Flora of Malawi: Jatropha curcas
Flora of Mozambique: Jatropha curcas
Flora of Zambia: Jatropha curcas
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated 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


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Jatropha curcas.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=135390, retrieved 19 March 2024

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