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:
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:	Saturday 7 February 2009
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. Parker, T. (2023). Common Trees of Mozambique The Tree Press, Austin, Texas, USA Pages 146 - 147. (Includes a picture). Radcliffe-Smith, A. (1996). Euphorbiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(4) Pages 259 - 260.

Other sources of information about Jatropha curcas:

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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
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