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Jatropha is a genus of flowering plants in the family Euphorbiaceae, comprising about 175 species of succulent plants, shrubs and trees. It is native to tropical zones of Africa and America. Jatropha is derived from Greek words iatros meaning physician, and trophe which means nutrition, thus the common name Physic nut. The Physic nut is meant to be a medicine, but both the milky sap and the seeds are simply poisonous. Jatropha is easy to grow and is resistant to pests and drought.
Jatropha podagrica is also known as Australian Bottle Plant, bottleplant shrub, Buddha belly plant, gout plant, purging-nut, Guatemalan rhubarb, and goutystalk nettlespurge. It is native to tropical Americas but is cultivated in many parts of the world as ornamental plant. It grows up to 0.5 m tall, with stem that is swollen into vasculum at the base and filled with thin sap. This plant bears bright red coral-like flowers throughout the year. It is poisonous due to the presence of toxic curcin.
Jatropha curcas which is commonly known as physic nut, is cultived for the non-edible Jatropha oil, used for making candles and soaps and as a feedstock for producing biodiesel.
