Jatropha curcas

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Dicotyledonae
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Jatropha
Species: J.curcas
Scientific Name: Jatropha curcasL.

Common names
English : Barbados nut tree.
Hindi: Jamal ghota, Ratanjot.
Kannada: Kananeranda, Doddaharalu.
Marathi: Mogli Erand.

Discription

1. Habit and Habitat: Jatrophacurcas is a perennial, monoecious shrub or small tree up to 6 m high; bark pale brown, papery, peeling; slash exudes a copious watery latex.J. curcas grows as a weed in tropical and sub-tropical environments and can be found in disturbed sites, pastures, open woodlands, waste areas, abandoned gardens, and along roadsides.
2. Distribution: Though native to America, the species is almost pantropical now, widely planted as a medicinal plant which soon tends to establish itself.
3. Morphology:
   Leaf: Leaves alternately appear with a petiole (3–20 cm long) and a blade broadly ovate in outline, usually shallowly 5-lobed.
   Inflorescence: The inflorescences are terminal or axillary umbel-like cymes, often paired, with a solitary female flower terminating each major axis and many male flowers on lateral branches.
   Flower: Flowers are unisexual.
   Androecium: Male flowers: sepals 5, approximately 4 mm, connate at base; petals oblong, green-yellow, approximately 6 mm, connate to middle, hairy inside; disk glands 5, nearly terete; stamens 10; outer 5 filaments free, inner filaments connate in lower part.
   Gynoecium: Female flowers: pedicels elongate; sepals free, approximately 6 mm; petals and disk glands as in male; ovary 3-locular, glabrous; styles bifid at apex.
   Fruit: Fruits are broadly ellipsoid capsules 2.5–3 cm × ca. 2 cm, smooth-skinned, initially fleshy and green, turning yellow and eventually dry and black and are 3-seeded.
   Seeds: Seeds are ellipsoid, 1–2 cm long, mottled black and coarsely pitted.
   Flowering and Fruiting time: Flowering from April-July.Fruiting April onwards.
4. Propagation: Grows readily, from cuttings or seeds.
5. Importance:
   Environmental
   a.Boundary, barrier or support
   b.Erosion control or dune stabilization
   c.Host of pest
   e.Soil conservation
   f.Soil improvement
   Fuels
   a.Biofuels
   Materials
   a.Dye/tanning
   b.Dyestuffs
   c.Lipids
   d.Poisonous to mammals
   f.Wax
6. Location: Botanical Garden.