Jatropha curcas L.

  • Authority

    Dehgan, Bijan. 2012. . Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 110: 1--274. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Euphorbiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Jatropha curcas L.

  • Type

    Lectotype. Jatropha 3, 1687-1689, illustr. Hans Sloan page no. 445 (BM). Lectotypified by A. Radcliffe-Smith, Euphorbiaceae, in Fl. Pakistan (E. Nasser & S. I. Ali, eds.). 172: 81. 1986. Curcas indica A. Richard, in Sagra, Hist. Fis. Cuba. Bot. 11: 208. 1850, nom. illegit. Castiglionia lobata Ruiz & Pavón, Syst. Veg. Fl. Peruv. Prodr. 139, t. 37. 277-278. 1794, nom. illegit. Curcas adansonii Endlicher, Cat. Horti. Vindob. 2: 394. 1842, nom. illegit. Curcas adansonii Endlicher ex Heynhold, Alph. Aufz. Gew. 176. 1840, nom. illegit. Jatropha acerifolia Salisb. Prodr. Chapel Alerton 389. 1796. [non Jatropha acerifolia Pax = Jatropha velutina Pax & K. Hoffm.], nom. illegit.

  • Synonyms

    Manihot curcas (L.) Crantz, Ricinus americanus Mill., Curcas purgans L.W.Medicus, Jatropha edulis Cerv., Curcas drastica Mart., Jatropha condor Wall., Jatropha moluccana L., Jatropha yucatanensis Briq.

  • Description

    Species Description - Trees, 8-15 m tall, monoecious. Stems: green in younger branches but grey-green in older, erect, somewhat succulent, leaf scars crescent-shaped; latex copious, clear in younger branches but cloudy in older. Leaves. deciduous in drier, cooler climates but semievergreen to evergreen in warmer, moist regions; stipules caducous but narrowly lanceolate when present on actively growing shoots; petioles 9-19 cm long and 1.4-3 mm in diam.; blades cordate to orbicular in outline, shallowly 3- to 5-lobed or sometimes unlobed, 9-15 cm wide and long, membranous, base cordate, apex acuminate, margins entire or eophylls and young leaves with few glands, venation palmate with 3-5(-7) primary veins, both surfaces glabrous or occasionally sparsely pubescent on abaxial veins. Inflorescences: bisexual, terminal becoming subterminal to lateral with continued growth, many-flowered, compound, capitate cymes, flowers predominantly staminate, peduncles of main florescences 5-10 cm long and those of coflorescences 1.5-5 cm; bracts 3-10 mm long; bracteoles 1.5-2 mm long; pedicels 1-3 mm long. Staminate flowers: sepals ovate-elliptic, 4-6 x 2-3 mm, connate at base, margins entire; apex acute, glabrous on both surfaces; corollas campanulate, greenish white to greenish yellow, petals 4-5 x 2-2.5(-3) mm, distinct or connate ca. ¼ of length, ovate-oblong, apex round and strongly reflexed, tomentose on adaxial side but glabrous on ab-axial; stamens 10, ± biseriate (5 + 5), filaments of outer series 3-4.5 mm long and those of inner series 3-5 mm, anthers 1.4-2 mm long. Pistillate flowers: like staminate but slightly larger and much fewer in number, infrequently with fertile staminodes; sepals 5-7.5 x 2-2.5 mm, connate to ca. ½ of length; petals 6-8 x 2-3.5 mm, glabrous on both surfaces; carpels 3, styles connate, 0.5-1.5 mm long, stigmas 3-lobed, lobes bifurcate; ovary usually unlobed but sometimes slightly 3-lobed. Capsules: ellipsoid, 2.6-3 x 2.2-2.8 cm, trilocular, drupaceous, black at maturity, tardily dehiscent. Seeds, black or black mottled with some white spots, oblong-ellipsoidal, 1.8-2 x 1.1-1.3 cm wide, seed coat smooth, caruncle small to nearly vestigial.

  • Discussion

    Local names and uses. Capuillo, chote, coquille, florón de montaña, French physic nut, kekchí, physic-nut, pinhâo de purga, piñon, piñón blanco, piñon botija, piñon lechoso, piñón perga, piñon ríollo, pinyung, pum blanco, quinhuala, scohuite, sakil-té, skil-té, tártago, tempate, tzeltal, and yupur. Mayan names (Roys, 1931), include ponponche, ponpoche, x-cacal-che, and ziclité. It has been used in soap making and commonly as living hedge around farms and cattle ranches because it can be easily propagated by cuttings and is not eaten by cattle or even goats. Although highly toxic due to the presence of the chemical curcin (tetramethylpyrazine), a few fresh seeds are used as a purgative (dose is 2 seeds only, more is dangerous) and also as edible, roasted nuts. Seeds that are roasted are said to be from specific cultivars. Makkar et al. (1998) cited several papers concerning the edible selections and providing interesting information about the nutritional value of the seeds. Leaves and cotyledons are boiled and used for dressing sores and to treat indigestion. Significant wound-healing activity was reported by Villegas et al. (1997). An extensive discussion concerning local utilization of J. curcas was presented by Standley (1923). Fruits are used to induce vomiting (hence, the common name, purging nut). Latex is used for fever blisters, warts, skin infections, pimples, mouth infection from bad teeth, and burns. Latex (“resin”) is also used to stop bleeding from wounds and to cauterize gums when a tooth is pulled. One teaspoon of the fresh sap is taken for diarrhea and as a contraceptive by women during the “regla” in Central America. According to Roys (1931), the Mayans used J, curcas to pass stones by drinking a tiny glass of the resin with an equal amount of water. It should be noted that, like all other species of the genus, Jatropha curcas has toxic properties (Lampe & McCann, 1985; Mampane et al., 2006). Kirtikar (1903) provided a detailed and interesting discussion of uses and medicinal and poisonous properties of J. curcas. There are numerous other publications concerning chemistry and medicinal properties of J. curcas that are beyond the scope of this monograph.

    In recent years, extensive culvation of Jatropha curcas has begun for biofuel production from seed in tropical and subtropical regions of several countries in Central and South America as well as India, Africa, and Southeast Asia (Heller, 1996; Kalabandi et al., 2008). Selected cultivars of J. curcas that are prolific fruit producers have been propagated by means of tissue culture (Sujatha & Mukta, 1996; Rajore & Batra, 2005; Datta et al., 2007). Characteristics and phenology of J. curcas were studied by Rao et al. (2008). In two recent publications, Carels (2009) and Debnath (2010) have examined agronomy, oil production, chemistry, biofuel features, toxicity, breeding, and other relevant aspects of J. curcas utilization in developing countries.

    Jatropha curcas readily hybridizes with many other species in the genus and usually functions as the female parent (Dehgan, 1984), hence, it is considered a primitive taxon (for further discussion see Geography and Evolution). Prabakaran & Sujatha (1999) showed that J. tanjorensis Ellis & Soroja, a common plant in Tamil Nadu State of India, is in fact a natural, sterile hybrid between J. curcas and J. gossypiifolia. This is a surprising find in light of the apparent taxonomic distance between these species.

    Although Jatropha curcas was properly lectotypified by Radcliffe-Smith (1986), as noted above, a specimen exists in the Linnaean Collections [LINN 1141.6 (Herb. Linn)] that might have been of interest.

    Distribution and Ecology: Common in neotropical regions from south Florida to northern Argentina and circumtropical. Although the actual origin of the species cannot be determined, it most likely migrated from tropical, northern South America to Mesoamerica and became widespread in Mexico, where plants are common in deciduous forests and open spaces, and where closely related species probably have evolved. The only known fossil record reported for any Jatropha is that of J. curcas from the early Tertiary of Peru by Berry (1929). Judging from the description and photographs, the resemblance to J. curcas is striking. The species is also widely cultivated and has become spontaneous in many countries, very likely including most of the specimens cited below. Flowering and fruiting primarily during active spring growth but sometimes also sparingly in late summer to early fall.

  • Distribution

    Mato Grosso do Sul Brazil South America| Saint Joseph Dominica South America| Saint Mark Dominica South America| San José de Ocoa Dominican Republic South America| Huehuetenango Guatemala Central America| Saint Andrew Jamaica South America| L'Artibonite Haiti South America| Gracias a Dios Honduras Central America| Trelawny Jamaica South America| Montserrat South America| Mayagüez Puerto Rico South America| Rincón Puerto Rico South America| Colima Mexico North America| Campeche Mexico North America| Chiapas Mexico North America| Guerrero Mexico North America| Jalisco Mexico North America| Michoacán Mexico North America| Nayarit Mexico North America| Oaxaca Mexico North America| Puebla Mexico North America| San Luis Potosí Mexico North America| Sinaloa Mexico North America| Tabasco Mexico North America| Veracruz Mexico North America| Yucatán Mexico North America| El Progreso Guatemala Central America| Escuintla Guatemala Central America| Guatemala Guatemala Central America| Izabal Guatemala Central America| Jutiapa Guatemala Central America| Retalhuleu Guatemala Central America| San Marcos Guatemala Central America| Santa Rosa Guatemala Central America| Suchitepéquez Guatemala Central America| Zacapa Guatemala Central America| Toledo Belize Central America| Atlantida Honduras Central America| Choluteca Honduras Central America| Colón Honduras Central America| Comayagua Honduras Central America| Copán Honduras Central America| Cortés Honduras Central America| El Paraíso Honduras Central America| Francisco Morazán Honduras Central America| Olancho Honduras Central America| La Libertad El Salvador Central America| San Miguel El Salvador Central America| San Salvador El Salvador Central America| San Vicente El Salvador Central America| Sonsonate El Salvador Central America| Chinandega Nicaragua Central America| Chontales Nicaragua Central America| Estelí Nicaragua Central America| Granada Nicaragua Central America| Jinotega Nicaragua Central America| León Nicaragua Central America| Managua Nicaragua Central America| Masaya Nicaragua Central America| Matagalpa Nicaragua Central America| Nueva Segovia Nicaragua Central America| Rivas Nicaragua Central America| Zelaya Nicaragua Central America| Guanacaste Costa Rica Central America| Limón Costa Rica Central America| San José Costa Rica Central America| Coclé Panamá Central America| Colón Panama Central America| Darién Panamá Central America| Herrera Panama Central America| Los Santos Panama Central America| Panamá Panama Central America| Canal Zone Panamá Central America| Exuma Bahamas South America| Camagüey Cuba South America| Cienfuegos Cuba South America| Guantánamo Cuba South America| La Habana Cuba South America| Isla de la Juventud Cuba South America| Piñar del Río Cuba South America| Santiago de Cuba Cuba South America| Centre Haiti South America| Nord Haiti South America| Azua Dominican Republic South America| Barahona Dominican Republic South America| Monte Cristi Dominican Republic South America| Peravia Dominican Republic South America| San Pedro de Macorís Dominican Republic South America| Distrito Nacional Dominican Republic South America| Guayama Puerto Rico South America| Mayagüez Puerto Rico South America| Peñuelas Puerto Rico South America| San Juan Puerto Rico South America| Martinique South America| Saint John Barbados South America| Antioquia Colombia South America| Chocó Colombia South America| Cundinamarca Colombia South America| Huila Colombia South America| Magdalena Colombia South America| Bolívar Colombia South America| Aragua Venezuela South America| Táchira Venezuela South America| Nueva Esparta Venezuela South America| Guyana South America| Suriname South America| El Oro Ecuador South America| Esmeraldas Ecuador South America| Guayas Ecuador South America| Loja Ecuador South America| Los Ríos Ecuador South America| Manabí Ecuador South America| Galápagos Islands Ecuador South America| Cajamarca Peru South America| Huánuco Peru South America| Lambayeque Peru South America| Lima Peru South America| Loreto Peru South America| Piura Peru South America| Tumbes Peru South America| Acre Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America| Bahia Brazil South America| Goiás Brazil South America| Minas Gerais Brazil South America| Pará Brazil South America| Pernambuco Brazil South America| Rio de Janeiro Brazil South America| Santa Catarina Brazil South America| São Paulo Brazil South America|