Jatropha curcas is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, that is native to the American tropics: Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. It has been spread to tropical and subtropical regions around the world, becoming naturalized or invasive in many areas. The specific epithet, "curcas", was first used by Portuguese physician and naturalist Garcia de Orta more than 400 years ago. Common names in English include physic nut, Barbados nut, poison nut, bubble bush or purging nut.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it poisonous?
Toxic. Seeds contain curcin and phorbol esters Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Jatropha peltata
- Aleurites moluccanus — considered toxic
- Jatropha malacophylla
Classification
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Phylum
- Tracheophyta
- Class
- Magnoliopsida
- Order
- Malpighiales
- Family
- Euphorbiaceae
- Genus
- Jatropha
- Species
- Jatropha curcas
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