Jatropha curcas (jatropha)
Index
- Pictures
- Identity
- Summary of Invasiveness
- Taxonomic Tree
- Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Description
- Plant Type
- Distribution
- Distribution Table
- History of Introduction and Spread
- Risk of Introduction
- Habitat
- Habitat List
- Hosts/Species Affected
- Biology and Ecology
- Latitude/Altitude Ranges
- Air Temperature
- Rainfall
- Rainfall Regime
- Soil Tolerances
- Natural enemies
- Notes on Natural Enemies
- Means of Movement and Dispersal
- Pathway Causes
- Pathway Vectors
- Plant Trade
- Economic Impact
- Environmental Impact
- Social Impact
- Risk and Impact Factors
- Uses
- Uses List
- Similarities to Other Species/Conditions
- Prevention and Control
- References
- Links to Websites
- Contributors
- Distribution Maps
Don't need the entire report?
Generate a print friendly version containing only the sections you need.
Generate reportIdentity
Top of pagePreferred Scientific Name
- Jatropha curcas L.
Preferred Common Name
- jatropha
Other Scientific Names
- Castiglionia lobata Ruiz & Pav.
- Curcas adansonii Endl
- Curcas curcas (L.) Britt.
- Curcas drastica Mart.
- Curcas indica A.Rich
- Curcas lobata Splitg. ex Lanj.
- Curcas purgans Medik.
- Jatropha acerifolia Salisb.
- Jatropha afrocurcas Pax
- Jatropha curcas var. rufa McVaugh
- Jatropha edulis Sessé
- Jatropha yucatanensis Briq.
- Manihot curcas (L.) Crantz
- Ricinus americanus Mill.
- Ricinus jarak Thunb.
International Common Names
- English: Barbados nut; Barbados nut tree; bubble bush; Mexican pine; physic nut; physic nut tree; poison nut; purging nut; purging nut tree
- Spanish: arbol de los pinones de Indias; arbol santo; frailejon; pinon; pinon blanco; pinoncillo; tartago; tempate
- French: grand ignon d'Inde; grand medicinier; gros ricin; haricot du perou; manioc batard; medicinier; noix de medicine; oignon d'Inde; pignon des Barbades; pignon d'Inde; pion d'Inde; pourghere; pulguere; purghere; ricin d'Amerique
- Arabic: dandebarri; dandenahri; habb el meluk
- Chinese: ma fong chou
- Portuguese: grao malucco; grao muluco; pinahao; pinhao de purga; pulza; purgheira; purgueira; ricino maior
Local Common Names
- Indochina: ba dau me; ba dau nam; cc dau; dau me; dong thu; kuang; lohong; vao; vong dau ngo
- Benin: aru-ebo
- Brazil: figo do inferno Mandubiguasu; munduyguasu; pihao de purga; pinhao do paaguay; pinhao manso; pinhao paraguay; pinheiro de purga; pinheiro do inferno
- Cambodia: lohong khvangsu
- Cameroon: botije; botuje; botuje-ubo; lobotuje; olobontuje; shenrijum; ubo
- Cape Verde: pulguiera
- Caribbean: feved'enfer; herbe du bon dieu; herbe du diable mancenillier benit; medicinier benit; medicinier des Barbades; noix americaine; pignon de Barbarie; pignon d'Inde
- Cook Islands: fiki; pakarani; piki; tuitui pakarangi; tuke
- Cuba: piñón criollo; piñón lechero; piñón vómico
- Egypt: habbel-meluk
- Ethiopia: ehanduejot; erundi; jangli-yarandi
- Fiji: banidakai; fiki; manggele; maqele; mbanindakai; ndrala; uto ni vavalangi; wiriwiri; wiriwiri ni vavalangi
- French Guiana: barane; medeicinier
- Gabon: ogombo
- Germany: Purgiernussbaum; Purgirnuss; Schwarzelrechnuss
- Guam: tubatuba
- Haiti: feuilles medecin; feuilles médicinier; grand médecinier; médecinier à grandes feuilles; médecinier béni; médecinier cathartique; médicinier à grandes feuilles
- India: adalai; akhuparnika; bagberenda; bagbherenda; baghbarinda; baghrandi; baigab; bhernda; bonbheranda; chitra; dravanti; erandagachh; irundi; jaiphal; jangliarandi; jepal; kadalmanakku; kaitta; kananeranda; kattamanakku; kattavanakku; kattukkottai; kuribaravuni; kurikarlu; maraharalu; mogalieranda; mushikaparni; naligadi; nikkurottam; nyagrodhi; paharierand; parvateranda; pharierand; pratyakshreni; ranayerandi; randa; ratanjot; safedarand; safedhind; safedind; shanbari; sutasheni; tiravade; vellaiyamanankku; vrisha; yerand
- Indonesia/Java: dijark
- Iran: dandebarri dandenahri
- Italy: fava purgatrice; giatrofa catarcita; ricino maggiore
- Lesser Antilles: médicinier barrière
- Mali: baga-ni; iridingue
- Mauritius: pignon d'Inde
- Mexico: avellanes purgantes; pinon Mexicano; sangregaod
- Micronesia, Federated states of: sáfeen kinas
- Mozambique: sassi
- Myanmar: kesugi; thinbankyekku; thinbaukyeksu; thinbawkyetsu
- Nepal: kadam
- Netherlands: purgeernoot
- Philippines: bolongcauit; casta; cator; kator; taatava; tuba
- Puerto Rico: tartago
- Saint Lucia: medsinnyè beni
- Samoa: lau pata; puavai
- Saudi Arabia: pignon d'Inde
- Senegal: tuba
- Sierra Leone: bagauro
- Sri Lanka: kaddamanakku
- Tonga: fiki
- USA/Hawaii: kuikui Pake; kuku‘ihi
EPPO code
- IATCU (Jatropha curcas)
Summary of Invasiveness
Top of pageAfter introduction into Asian countries, J. curcas has spread very rapidly, and due to its ethnobotanical uses, promotion as an ornamental and hedge plant encouraged its further spread. For farmers, plantation owners and foresters, this promotion is becoming a problem. After recent research on its use as a potential biofuel crop, the governments of many Asian countries, including India, are promoting its commercial cultivation. This may cause further damage to ecosystems and natural biodiversity. A number of risk assessments for invasiveness have given J. curcas a high risk of becoming invasive (Gordon et al., 2011; Negussie et al., 2013a), although field studies have not always found actual evidence of spread or environmental impact (Negussie et al., 2015).
Taxonomic Tree
Top of page- Domain: Eukaryota
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Phylum: Spermatophyta
- Subphylum: Angiospermae
- Class: Dicotyledonae
- Order: Euphorbiales
- Family: Euphorbiaceae
- Genus: Jatropha
- Species: Jatropha curcas
Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature
Top of page
The name Jatropha curcas was first used by Linnaeus, and although there are a number of synonyms this name is still valid today. J. curcas is in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, which is a pantropical family including 228 genera and over 6500 species of trees and shrubs (The Plant List, 2013). The genus Jatropha belongs to the tribe Jatropheae of the subfamily Crotonoideae. The genus comprises about 180 species, most of them in warm temperate and subtropical regions and the seasonally dry tropics.
Dehgan and Webster (1979) revised the subdivision made by Pax (1910) and now distinguish two subgenera (Curcas and Jatropha) of the genus Jatropha, with 10 sections and 10 subsections to accommodate the Old and New World species. They postulated the physic nut (Jatropha curcas L. [sect. Curcas (Adans.) Griseb., subg. Curcas (Adans.) Pax]) to be the most primitive form of the Jatropha genus. Species in other sections evolved from the physic nut or another ancestral form, with changes in growth habit and flower structures. Hierarchical cluster analysis of 77 New World Jatropha species showed for the most part concordance with Dehgan and Webster's (1979) infrageneric classification (Dehgan and Schutzman, 1994). Further cladistic analysis supported the Dehgan and Webster (1979) evolutionary model of the genus Jatropha.
Other Jatropha species in the section Curcas include: J. pseudo-curcas, J. afrocurcas, J. macrophylla, J. villosa (syn.: J. wightiana), J. hintonii, J. bartlettii, J. mcvaughii and J. yucatanensis. McVaugh (1945) considered J. yucatanensis to be a synonym of J. curcas. One species, J. villosa, is of Indian origin (Ahmedullah and Nayar, 1987). Two species, J. afrocurcas and J. macrophylla, are of East African origin, whereas all the other species in this section are native to the Americas.
Description
Top of pageJ. curcas is a shrub or treelet, 2-5 m tall, with watery latex; bark smooth; branches glaucous-gray, glabrous, sparsely lenticellate, pith larger. Stipules small; petioles 6-18 cm; leaf blade rotund to ovate, 7-18 × 6-16 cm, papery, nitid green and glabrous adaxially, gray-green and along nerves puberulent to glabrous abaxially, base cordate, apex acute; palmate veins 5-7. Inflorescences axillary, 6-10 cm; bracts lanceolate, 4-8 mm. 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. Female flowers: pedicels elongate; sepals free, approximately 6 mm; petals and disk glands as in male; ovary 3-locular, glabrous; styles bifid at apex. Capsules ellipsoidal or globose, 2.5-3 cm, yellow. Seeds ellipsoidal, 1.5-2 cm, black (Flora of China Editorial Committee, 2015).
Distribution
Top of pageJ. curcas is thought to be native to tropical America but its exact origin is still uncertain. Martin and Mayeux (1984) identified Ceara, Brazil, as a centre of origin, but Dehgan and Webster (1979) cite Wilbur (1954) that “it was without doubt part of the flora of Mexico and probably of northern Central America before the arrival of Cortez, and it most likely originated there ... the subsection, hence, appears to be one which originally was nearly or completely restricted to Mexico.” According to Aponte (1978), J. curcas is native to Central America as well as to Mexico, where it occurs naturally in the forests of coastal regions. USDA-ARS (2015) notes a native range of Mexico, Central America and northern South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru and Paraguay) excluding the Caribbean. Kairo et al. (2003) and Acevedo-Rodriguez and Strong (2012) also reported J. curcas as introduced in the Caribbean.
Distribution Table
Top of pageThe distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they may give conflicting information on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the Distribution Table Details section which can be selected by going to Generate Report.
Last updated: 14 Feb 2022Continent/Country/Region | Distribution | Last Reported | Origin | First Reported | Invasive | Planted | Reference | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Africa |
||||||||
Angola | Present | Introduced | Cultivated | |||||
Benin | Present | Introduced | Cultivated | |||||
Burkina Faso | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Burundi | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Cabo Verde | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Cameroon | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
Central African Republic | Present | Introduced | Cultivated | |||||
Chad | Present | Introduced | Cultivated | |||||
Comoros | Present | Introduced | Invasive | |||||
Côte d'Ivoire | Present | Introduced | Cultivated | |||||
Egypt | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
Ethiopia | Present | Introduced | Invasive | |||||
Gabon | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Gambia | Present | Introduced | Cultivated | |||||
Ghana | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Guinea | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
Guinea-Bissau | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
Kenya | Present | Introduced | Invasive | |||||
Liberia | Present | Introduced | Cultivated | |||||
Madagascar | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
Malawi | Present | Introduced | Cultivated | |||||
Mali | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Mauritius | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
Mayotte | Present | Introduced | Invasive | |||||
Mozambique | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
Niger | Present | Introduced | Cultivated | |||||
Nigeria | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
Réunion | Present | Introduced | Invasive | Planted | ||||
Rwanda | Present | Introduced | Naturalized | Naturalized | ||||
Senegal | Present | Introduced | Cultivated | |||||
Seychelles | Present | Introduced | Cultivated | |||||
Sierra Leone | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
Somalia | Present | Introduced | ||||||
South Africa | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
Sudan | Present | Introduced | Cultivated | |||||
Tanzania | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Togo | Present | Introduced | Cultivated | |||||
Uganda | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Zambia | Present | Introduced | Cultivated | |||||
Zimbabwe | Present | Introduced | 1933 | |||||
Asia |
||||||||
Bhutan | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
Cambodia | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
China | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Fujian | Present | Introduced | ||||||
-Guangdong | Present | Introduced | ||||||
-Guangxi | Present | Introduced | ||||||
-Guizhou | Present | Introduced | ||||||
-Hainan | Present | Introduced | ||||||
-Sichuan | Present | Introduced | ||||||
-Yunnan | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Hong Kong | Present | Introduced | 1851 | |||||
India | Present, Widespread | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Andhra Pradesh | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Arunachal Pradesh | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Assam | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Bihar | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Chandigarh | Present | Introduced | Invasive | Planted | ||||
-Chhattisgarh | Present, Widespread | Introduced | Invasive | |||||
-Dadra and Nagar Haveli | Present | Introduced | Invasive | Planted | ||||
-Daman and Diu | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Delhi | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Goa | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Gujarat | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Haryana | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Himachal Pradesh | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Jammu and Kashmir | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Karnataka | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Kerala | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Lakshadweep | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Madhya Pradesh | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Maharashtra | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Manipur | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Meghalaya | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Mizoram | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Nagaland | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Odisha | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Punjab | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Rajasthan | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Sikkim | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Tamil Nadu | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Tripura | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Uttar Pradesh | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-West Bengal | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
Indonesia | Present | Introduced | Invasive | |||||
-Java | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
Malaysia | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
-Peninsular Malaysia | Present | |||||||
Myanmar | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
Nepal | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
Philippines | Present | Introduced | Planted | First reported: before 1870s | ||||
Saudi Arabia | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
Singapore | Present | Introduced | Naturalized | Cultivated and naturalized | ||||
South Korea | Present | |||||||
Sri Lanka | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
Taiwan | Present | Introduced | Naturalized | Planted | Cultivated and naturalized | |||
Thailand | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
Vietnam | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Yemen | Present | Introduced | Naturalized | Cultivated and naturalized | ||||
-Socotra | Present | Introduced | 2005 | |||||
Europe |
||||||||
Portugal | Present | Planted | ||||||
North America |
||||||||
Antigua and Barbuda | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Bahamas | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Barbados | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Belize | Present | Native | Planted | |||||
British Virgin Islands | Present | Introduced | Invasive | Tortola, Virgin Gorda | ||||
Cayman Islands | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Costa Rica | Present | Native | Planted | |||||
Cuba | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Dominica | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Dominican Republic | Present | Introduced | ||||||
El Salvador | Present | Native | Planted | |||||
Grenada | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Guadeloupe | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Guatemala | Present | Native | Planted | |||||
Haiti | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
Honduras | Present | Native | Planted | |||||
Jamaica | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
Martinique | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Mexico | Present | Native | ||||||
Montserrat | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Netherlands Antilles | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
Nicaragua | Present | Native | Planted | |||||
Panama | Present | Native | Planted | |||||
Puerto Rico | Present | Introduced | Invasive | |||||
Saint Kitts and Nevis | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
Saint Lucia | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Trinidad and Tobago | Present | Introduced | ||||||
U.S. Virgin Islands | Present | Introduced | Invasive | St Croix, St John | ||||
United States | Present | Present based on regional distribution. | ||||||
-Florida | Present | Introduced | Naturalized | Planted | Naturalized | |||
-Hawaii | Present | Introduced | Invasive | |||||
Oceania |
||||||||
American Samoa | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
Australia | Present | Invasive | Planted | |||||
-Northern Territory | Present | Introduced | Invasive | |||||
-Queensland | Present | Introduced | Invasive | |||||
-Victoria | Present | Introduced | ||||||
-Western Australia | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Christmas Island | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Cook Islands | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Federated States of Micronesia | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Fiji | Present | Introduced | Invasive | Planted | ||||
French Polynesia | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Guam | Present | Introduced | Invasive | |||||
New Caledonia | Present | Introduced | Invasive | |||||
Niue | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Northern Mariana Islands | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Palau | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Papua New Guinea | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
Samoa | Present | Introduced | Invasive | |||||
Tonga | Present | Introduced | Invasive | Planted | ||||
Tuvalu | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Vanuatu | Present | Introduced | ||||||
Wallis and Futuna | Present | Introduced | Invasive | |||||
South America |
||||||||
Argentina | Present | Native | Planted | |||||
Bolivia | Present | Native | Planted | |||||
Brazil | Present | Native | ||||||
-Ceara | Present | Native | ||||||
-Minas Gerais | Present | |||||||
-Sao Paulo | Present | |||||||
-Tocantins | Present | Introduced | Invasive | |||||
Chile | Present | Origin uncertain | ||||||
Colombia | Present | Planted | Origin uncertain | |||||
Ecuador | Present | Native | ||||||
-Galapagos Islands | Present | Introduced | Invasive | Planted | ||||
French Guiana | Present | Introduced | Planted | |||||
Guyana | Present | Introduced | Naturalized | Cultivated and naturalized | ||||
Paraguay | Present | Native | Planted | |||||
Peru | Present | Native | Planted | |||||
Suriname | Present | Introduced | Naturalized | Cultivated and naturalized | ||||
Uruguay | Present | Origin uncertain | ||||||
Venezuela | Present | Planted |
History of Introduction and Spread
Top of pageIt was widely distributed throughout the tropics as an ornamental and medicinal plant, and was probably distributed by Portuguese seafarers via Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau to other countries in Africa and Asia. Freitas (1906), notes that it was already known in Cape Verde several years prior to 1810. Chelmicki and Varnhagen (1841) mention that exports of J. curcas nuts had already begun in 1836, and many decrees were published in the ‘Boletim Oficial de Cabo Verde’ from 1843 onwards to promote its planting (Freitas, 1906; Serra, 1950). Burkill (1966) assumes that the Portuguese brought it to Asia, but suggests that it may not have reached Malacca, Indonesia until the Dutch were in possession, for the Malays call it by a name meaning ‘Dutch castor oil’. The Javanese, among other names, call it Chinese castor oil. It is regarded in most countries, in Africa as well as in the East, as the 'castor oil plant', which shows that it was brought in and planted for the oil and it is widely known as the 'hedge castor oil plant', showing where it was mostly planted. In the West Indies, J. curcas appears in herbarium collection made in 1865 in Trinidad and Tobago, 1881 in Dominica, 1885 in Puerto Rico and 1893 in Guadeloupe (US National Herbarium).
Risk of Introduction
Top of pageJ. curcas has been deliberately introduced into many countries for ornamental or medicinal purposes, or for exploitation of the oil as a fuel for lighting. There is a possibility of further introduction and cultivation as a fuel crop. It is listed as a weed in a number of countries, and is a class A noxious weed (to be eradicated) in the Northern Territory, Australia (Crothers, 1998) and a declared noxious species in Western Australia (PIER, 2008). It also failed a weed risk assessment for the Pacific (PIER, 2008).
Habitat
Top of pageMany Jatropha species in their native Americas occur in seasonally dry areas such as grassland-savanna (cerrado), thorn forest scrub and caatingas, and are completely lacking from the moist Amazon humid forest region (Dehgan and Schutzman, 1994). J. curcas is a common hedge plant in Guatemala and Florida, USA, where it is also found in roadsides or disturbed sites. It is found especially in the stony dry stream courses and on rocky slopes in Cape Verde, and is a common wasteland and upland weed in parts of India. In the Pacific it is reported as a potential invader of lowland forest on Wallis and Futuna Islands, naturalized along roadsides, on open slopes, and sometimes in forests in Fiji, about plantations, along roads, and other places where it is used as a living fence in Tonga, and in secondary scrubland in New Caledonia (PIER, 2008). In La Réunion, it is naturalized in semi-dry vegetation along paths and riverbanks, and in Australia is found in disturbed areas around old settlements (PIER, 2008).
Habitat List
Top of pageCategory | Sub-Category | Habitat | Presence | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
Terrestrial | Managed | Cultivated / agricultural land | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Managed | Cultivated / agricultural land | Present, no further details | Productive/non-natural |
Terrestrial | Managed | Protected agriculture (e.g. glasshouse production) | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Managed | Managed forests, plantations and orchards | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Managed | Managed forests, plantations and orchards | Present, no further details | Productive/non-natural |
Terrestrial | Managed | Managed grasslands (grazing systems) | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Managed | Disturbed areas | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Managed | Disturbed areas | Present, no further details | Natural |
Terrestrial | Managed | Rail / roadsides | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Managed | Rail / roadsides | Present, no further details | Productive/non-natural |
Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Natural forests | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Natural forests | Present, no further details | Natural |
Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Natural grasslands | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Natural grasslands | Present, no further details | Natural |
Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Scrub / shrublands | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Scrub / shrublands | Present, no further details | Natural |
Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Deserts | Present, no further details | Productive/non-natural |
Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Arid regions | Present, no further details | Productive/non-natural |
Littoral | Coastal areas | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) | |
Littoral | Coastal areas | Present, no further details | Natural | |
Littoral | Coastal areas | Present, no further details | Productive/non-natural |
Hosts/Species Affected
Top of pageBiology and Ecology
Top of pageGenetics
J. curcas is a diploid species with 2n = 22 chromosomes (Soontornchainaksaeng and Jenjittikul, 2003). Large living germplasm collections are known to have been established in several countries, and trials have been undertaken to select provenances with a higher fruit and oil yield. A number of studies have identified significant differences in oil yield from different provinces in Indian states. Broad intra- and inter-populational variation was also assessed using molecular markers (Basha and Sujatha, 2007) and peroxidase enzyme activity (Kumar et al., 2005).
Reproductive Biology
J. curcas is monoecious and protandrous, the ratio of male to female flowers being 29:1. Both flower sexes open synchronously, and the sexual system facilitates geitonogamy and xenogamy. Flower visitors include bees and flies which affect geitonogamy and xenogamy, and ants and thrips which affect only geitonogamy. Fruiting behaviour indicates that the plant might selectively eliminate the growing offspring, especially the geitonogamous fruit, to allocate the resources available mostly for xenogamous fruit, and the ability to self-pollinate through geitonogamy is considered to be adaptive for J. curcas colonization (Raju and Ezradanam, 2002).
During field trials, Heller (1992) observed a number of different insects that visited flowers and could pollinate the plant, noting that in Senegal, staminate flowers open later than pistillate flowers in the same inflorescence which to a certain extent promotes cross-pollination. After pollination, a trilocular ellipsoidal fruit is formed, the exocarp remaining fleshy until the seeds are mature. Fruit development needs 90 days from flowering to seed maturation. It may regrow from parts of any broken, tuberous roots. It can also be reproduced artificially via cuttings and tissue culture.
Physiology and Phenology
Sukarin et al. (1987) observed two flowering peaks in Thailand, in November and May, whereas in permanently humid equatorial regions flowering occurs throughout the year. The fruit releases three large black seeds (nuts), each about 2 cm long and 1 cm in diameter. In good moisture conditions, germination occurs in 10 days (Heller, 1996). When the seed shell splits, the radicle emerges and four small peripheral roots are formed. Soon after development of the first true leaves, the cotyledons wither and fall off. Further growth is sympodial. In Thailand, a stem length of 1 m was reached after 5 months growth when sown in May (Sukarin et al., 1987). Vegetative growth occurs mainly in the rainy season, with little increment in the dry season, and like many other Jatropha species, J. curcas is a succulent that sheds its leaves during the dry season.
Environmental Requirements
It is best adapted to arid and semi-arid conditions. Current distribution confirms that introduction has been most successful in similar dry regions of the tropics with an average annual rainfall of between 300 and 1000 mm, though will tolerate higher rainfall areas up to 2000 mm with extended dry seasons, and it has reported survived years without any rainfall in Cape Verde (Münch, 1986). The areas where it has been collected in the centre of origin show average annual temperatures well above 20°C and up to 28°C, although mean temperatures of collection sites range from 11°C to 28°C. It was, however, noted to withstand occasional light frost in the Chã das Caldeiras, Fogo, Cape Verde islands at approximately 1700 m altitude (Kiefer, 1986) where grapevines and apples can also be found.
It grows on well-drained soils with good aeration and is well-adapted to marginal soils with low nutrient content, including saline or sodic and alkaline soils. It is also very drought tolerant and can withstand slight frost (Orwa et al., 2009).
Latitude/Altitude Ranges
Top of pageLatitude North (°N) | Latitude South (°S) | Altitude Lower (m) | Altitude Upper (m) |
---|---|---|---|
23 | -23 | 0 | 0 |
Air Temperature
Top of pageParameter | Lower limit | Upper limit |
---|---|---|
Absolute minimum temperature (ºC) | -1 | 0 |
Mean annual temperature (ºC) | 11 | 28 |
Mean maximum temperature of hottest month (ºC) | 0 | 0 |
Mean minimum temperature of coldest month (ºC) | 0 | 0 |
Rainfall
Top of pageParameter | Lower limit | Upper limit | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Dry season duration | 4 | 8 | number of consecutive months with <40 mm rainfall |
Mean annual rainfall | 300 | 2000 | mm; lower/upper limits |
Soil Tolerances
Top of pageSoil drainage
- free
- impeded
Soil reaction
- alkaline
- neutral
Soil texture
- light
- medium
Special soil tolerances
- infertile
- saline
- shallow
- sodic
Natural enemies
Top of pageNatural enemy | Type | Life stages | Specificity | References | Biological control in | Biological control on |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cochliobolus spicifer | Pathogen | Plants|Leaves | ||||
Pestalotiopsis paraguariensis | Pathogen | Plants|Leaves | ||||
Pestalotiopsis versicolor | Pathogen | Plants|Leaves | ||||
Pseudocercospora jatrophae-curcas | Pathogen | Plants|Leaves |
Notes on Natural Enemies
Top of page
A number of pests and diseases have been reported (see Heller, 1996), although in most countries they do not severely affect the plant. Millipedes (Julus sp.) have been reported as causing total loss of seedlings (Heller, 1992). Fusariummoniliforme [Gibberella fujikuroi] has been reported as causing root rot of J. curcas in India (Sharma et al., 2001). Studies on Heteroptera in J. curcas stands in Nicaragua found Pachycoris klugii and Leptoglossus zonatus to be the most common (Grimm and Fuhrer, 1998). The life-cycle of P. klugii was studied by Grimm and Somarriba (1998), who described this species as a key pest of J. curcas in Nicaragua. Grimm and Somarriba (1999) reared L. zonatus on a diet consisting of unripe J. curcas fruit only and concluded that J. curcas was a highly suitable food plant which can maintain populations of this insect pest throughout the year.
In India, J. curcas is devastated by the scutellarid Scutellera nobilis [S. perplexa], which is an emerging problem that causes flower fall, fruit abortion and seed malformation. Another scutellarid, Agonosoma trilineatum is also a serious problem from seed-feeding, and red pumpkin beetles (Aulacophora foveicollis) are also found to infest the leaves (Sharma, 2006). A leaf miner was also found infesting J. curcas in India (Mohommad et al., 2007), but the key pest attacking J. curcas in southern India identified by Regupathy and Ayyasamy (2006) was the leaf webber cum fruit borer, Pempelia morosalis (Saalm Uller). Pandey et al. (2006) also noted Pestalotiopsis stem canker attacking J. curcas in northern India. Many pests were recorded by Shanker and Dhyani (2006), including Pachycoris klugii, Agonosoma trilineatum, Scutellera nobilis [Scutellera perplexa], Pempelia morosalis, Stomphastis thraustica [Stomphastis plectica], Achaea janata and Oxycetonia versicolor, while Stegodyphus sp., Pseudotelenomus pachycoris [Telenomus pachycoris], Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Leptoglossus zonatus are some of their biological control agents.
The seed-borne fungi attacking J. curcas seed in India were recorded by Anitha et al. (2005), including Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus spp. (Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus), Cladosporium sp., Chaetomium sp., Colletotrichum acutatum, Colletotrichum graminicola, Cercospora sp., Drechslera rostrata [Setosphaeria rostrata], Fusarium semitectum [F. pallidoroseum], F. solani, F. verticillioides [Gibberella moniliformis], Lasiodiplodia theobromae (the most prevalent), Periconia sp., Pestalotia sp. and Phoma sp.
Means of Movement and Dispersal
Top of pageJ. curcas has been deliberately introduced into many areas as a crop plant and this has been the principle means of long-distance dispersal. Locally, vehicles and machinery aid the spread of Jatropha through the movement of capsules and seed, vegetative parts of the plant, and soil containing seeds. Livestock also assist in the spread through the movement of seed and aid in establishment by the selective grazing of other more palatable but competitive species (Pitt, 1999). Naturally, capsules split open when ripe to eject seeds some distance, though gravity may be more important on sloped sites. Seeds are also dispersed by water and some spread occurs from the tuberous roots which sucker. In Burkina Faso, Negussie et al. (2015) have observed dispersal by small mammals and arthropods, particularly rodents and ants, and state that up to 98% secondary dispersal by animals was recorded at some sites. In Zambia, primary seed dispersal of J. curcas was limited: rodents and shrews dispersed and predated seeds and fruits, but none of the seeds repositioned in their burrows could establish (Negussie et al., 2013a).
Pathway Causes
Top of pageCause | Notes | Long Distance | Local | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Crop production | Yes | Pitt (1999) | ||
Disturbance | Yes | Pitt (1999) | ||
Escape from confinement or garden escape | Yes | Pitt (1999) | ||
Flooding and other natural disasters | Yes | Pitt (1999) | ||
Forestry | Yes | Pitt (1999) | ||
Habitat restoration and improvement | Yes | Pitt (1999) | ||
Hedges and windbreaks | Yes | Yes | Pitt (1999) | |
Industrial purposes | Yes | Pitt (1999) | ||
Internet sales | Yes | Pitt (1999) |
Pathway Vectors
Top of pageVector | Notes | Long Distance | Local | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Livestock | Yes | Pitt (1999) | ||
Machinery and equipment | Yes | Pitt (1999) | ||
Yes | Pitt (1999) | |||
Soil, sand and gravel | Yes | Pitt (1999) | ||
Water | Yes | Pitt (1999) |
Plant Trade
Top of pagePlant parts not known to carry the pest in trade/transport |
---|
Bark |
Bulbs/Tubers/Corms/Rhizomes |
Flowers/Inflorescences/Cones/Calyx |
Fruits (inc. pods) |
Growing medium accompanying plants |
Leaves |
Roots |
Seedlings/Micropropagated plants |
Stems (above ground)/Shoots/Trunks/Branches |
True seeds (inc. grain) |
Wood |
Economic Impact
Top of pageJ. curcas has received most attention recently for its perceived potential as a future ‘miracle’ crop, as a source of biofuels, though in reality, there are few accurate and detailed reports that quantify the actual economic benefits that can be accrued (e.g. Goswami, 2006 and other chapters in the same book). Wani et al. (2006) observed that as increasing energy demand and spiraling oil prices are causing financial strain and environmental degradation, the use of non-edible oil as biodiesel provides a win-win proposition for densely populated Asian countries. However, there are negative impacts of possible invasion from biofuel crops which are being increasingly recognised, e.g. by Raghu et al. (2006) and Low and Booth (2007), and further comparison of positive and negative impacts are required for J. curcas as well as many other biofuel crops.
Environmental Impact
Top of pageThe rapid spread of J. curcas in natural forests is a problem in many areas through damaging the natural flora. It competes with native species and has the potential to form dense thickets or colonies. Allelopathic studies conducted to evaluate the effects of different parts of J. curcas on germination and seedling vigour of different medicinal herbs revealed that J. curcas can damage the biodiversity of Chhattisgarh, India. Its increasing infestation in pasture lands, forests, and National Parks is becoming a potential threat to existing biodiversity. Vitexin and isovitexin, stigmasterol and beta-sitosterol from leaves have been identified as allelochemicals that are considered to be responsible for the harmful effects of J. curcas on neighbouring plants (Rastogi and Mehrotra, 1991), and harmful allelopathic effects on germination and seedling vigour of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan), rice, chickpeas and lentils have been reported (Oudhia, 2000).
Further studies on the actually environmental impacts of J. curcas are needed, especially where known to be invasive already such as on Pacific islands, and attempts must be made to assess the merits and demerits of this species as an invasive weed or valuable biofuel crop. Negussie et al. (2015) suggested that in Burkina Faso, despite warnings about the invasive potential of J. curcas, there was no convincing evidence of natural spread or significant environmental impact. Negussie et al. (2013b) reported that their risk assessments which classified J. curcas as a species with high invasiveness risk, were in contradiction with recent experimental evidence. A risk assessment for Florida suggested that the species has a high probability of becoming invasive (Gordon et al., 2011), while Bridgemohan and Bridgemohan (2014) conducted a risk assessment for the Caribbean islands and say that J. curucas should not be considered as a bioenergy crop within the ecological limits of their study.
Social Impact
Top of pageJ. curcas is poisonous to livestock and to people if seeds of J. curcas are consumed (Makkar and Becker, 1998), and overdoses cause severe diarrhoea and possible death. Presence of this weed in populated areas is considered to be dangerous, as deaths, particularly in children due to accidental intake have been common in India. The presence of this weed in bunds and wastelands creates an obstruction to the movement of livestock, and cases of poisoning among cattle are also common.
Risk and Impact Factors
Top of page- Invasive in its native range
- Proved invasive outside its native range
- Has a broad native range
- Abundant in its native range
- Highly adaptable to different environments
- Is a habitat generalist
- Tolerates, or benefits from, cultivation, browsing pressure, mutilation, fire etc
- Highly mobile locally
- Long lived
- Fast growing
- Has high reproductive potential
- Has propagules that can remain viable for more than one year
- Reproduces asexually
- Has high genetic variability
- Damaged ecosystem services
- Ecosystem change/ habitat alteration
- Modification of nutrient regime
- Modification of successional patterns
- Monoculture formation
- Negatively impacts agriculture
- Negatively impacts human health
- Negatively impacts animal health
- Reduced native biodiversity
- Allelopathic
- Competition - monopolizing resources
- Competition - shading
- Poisoning
- Rapid growth
- Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately
Uses
Top of pagePreparations of all parts of the plant are used in traditional medicine as a laxative, emetic, cough treatment, and for healing wounds (Crothers, 1998; Heller, 1996), as a purgative and styptic, for toothache and strengthens gums, and to treat diarrhoea. Twigs are cooked and eaten when young, and used for cleaning teeth when mature. The oil is applied externally to treat skin disease, and for rheumatism and sciatica. The latex has antimicrobial properties (Thomas, 1989). In laboratory experiments, ground J. curcas capsules showed molluscidal activity against the host of liver fluke (Lymnaea auricularia rubiginosa) (Agaceta et al., 1981). One of the most studied antimicrobial chemicals is curcin. J. curcas also yields a dye which is used to give tan and brown shades and can also be used for making ink. The bark is rich in tannin, up to 37%. For further information on the uses of J. curcas see: Persinos et al., 1964; Wang and Huffman, 1981; Banerji et al., 1985; Ben Salem and Palmberg, 1985; Shelke et al., 1985; Mathur, 1986; Srivastava, 1986; Budowski, 1987; Anon., 1988; Paroda and Mal, 1989; Sherchan et al., 1989; Thomas, 1989; Weiss, 1989; Cabral, 1991; Roorda, 1991; Jones and Miller, 1992; Sauerwein et al., 1993; Solsoloy, 1993; Oudhia and Tripathi, 2002.
Uses List
Top of pageEnvironmental
- Boundary, barrier or support
- Erosion control or dune stabilization
- Host of pest
- Soil conservation
- Soil improvement
Fuels
- Biofuels
Human food and beverage
- Nuts
- Spices and culinary herbs
Materials
- Dye/tanning
- Dyestuffs
- Lipids
- Poisonous to mammals
- Wax
Medicinal, pharmaceutical
- Traditional/folklore
Similarities to Other Species/Conditions
Top of pageThe closest relatives of J. curcas from karyotypes were J. multifida and J. gossypifolia, which were also noted as very similar morphologically (Soontornchainaksaeng and Jenjittikul, 2003). J. curcas looks very similar to Jatropha gossypiifolia and relatively similar to Ricinus communis. These three species can be distinguished by the following differences:
- Jatropha curcas has leaves that are shallowly divided into 3-5 rounded lobes and glabrous. The small flowers have five greenish-yellow petals and are borne in small branched clusters. Its fruiting capsules are usually dull yellow and glabrous.
- Jatropha gossypiifolia has leaves that are deeply divided into 3-5 pointed lobes (i.e. they are palmately lobed) and covered in sticky hairs (i.e. glandular pubescent). The small flowers have five red petals and are borne in small branched clusters. Its fruiting capsules are usually bright glossy green and sometimes sparsely pubescent.
- Ricinus communis has leaves that are usually divided into 7-9 pointed lobes and glabrous. Separate male and female flowers (both lacking petals) are borne together in large elongated clusters (8-15 cm long), with the male flowers below the female flowers. Its immature fruiting capsules are densely covered in soft blunt spines, but are glabrous.
Prevention and Control
Top of pageDue to the variable regulations around (de)registration of pesticides, your national list of registered pesticides or relevant authority should be consulted to determine which products are legally allowed for use in your country when considering chemical control. Pesticides should always be used in a lawful manner, consistent with the product's label.
Control
Cultural and sanitary measures
In extensive areas, infestations should be fenced off to prevent grazing and to limit the movement of contaminated vehicles and stock. The introduction of a vigorous pasture in suitable areas will assist in controlling the rate of spread of Jatropha (Pitt, 1999).
Physical/mechanical control
Seedlings and juvenile Jatropha are easily removed by hand, but cut portions and hand-pulled plants should be kept out of contact with moist soil or regrowth may occur. In Chhattisgarh, India, hand weeding is common practice for the control of J. curcas (Oudhia and Tripathi, 2002). Single plants of J. curcas should be dug out and burnt, taking care to remove as much of the tuberous roots as possible (Crothers, 1998).
Biological control
None known.
Chemical control
Recommendations on control of the related J. gossypiifolia suggest that individual or scattered mature plants can be treated with a cut stump application of diesel fuel or a registered herbicide, whereas larger infestations should be treated with suitable foliar or soil-applied herbicides (Pitt, 1999). Registered, selective herbicides for on-ground application of J. gossypiifolia in Australia are metsulfuron-methyl and fluroxypyr.
Control by utilization
Preventing further invasion by collection all of the seeds may appear feasible as the seeds have an immediate market value as a source of oil.
References
Top of pageAcevedo-Rodríguez P, Strong MT, 2012. Catalogue of the Seed Plants of the West Indies. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany, 98:1192 pp. Washington DC, USA: Smithsonian Institution. http://botany.si.edu/Antilles/WestIndies/catalog.htm
Agaceta LM, Dumag PU, Atolos JA, Bandiola FC, 1981. Studies on the control of snail vectors of fosciolasis. Molluscicidal activity of some indigenous plants. National Science Development Board (NSDM) Tech. J. (Philippines), 6(2):30-34
Agriculture Handbook 165, 1960. Index of plant diseases in the United States. Washington, USA: USGPO
Ahmedullah M, Nayar MP, 1987. Endemic plants of Indian origin, Vol. I. Lucknow, India: Botanical Survey of India
Anon, 1979. Flora of Taiwan. Taipei, Taiwan: Epach Publishing Co. Ltd
Anon., 1988. Do miracle plants exist? Spore, 16:1-3.
Aponte CH, 1978. Estudio de Jatropha curcas L. Comorecurso biotico. Diploma thesis, University Veracruz, Xalapa Enriquez, Veracruz, Mexico
Banerji R, Chowdhury AR, Misra G, Sudarsanam G, Verma SC, Srivastava GS, 1985. Jatropha seed oils for energy. Biomass, 8:277-282
Ben Salem B, Palmberg, 1985. Place and role of trees. In: GE Wickens, JR Goodin, DV Fields, Conference on Economic plants for Arid Lands. Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England. London, UK: George Allen and Unwin, 93-102
Berhaut J, 1975. Flore illustree du senegal. Dicotyledones. Tome II Connaracees a Euphorbiacees. Gouvrenement du Senegal, Ministrere du Development Rural et del' Hyraulique, Direction des Eaux et forets, Dakar
Bhasabutra R, Sutiponpeibun S, 1982. Jatropha curcas oil: a substitute for diesel engine oil. Renewable Energy Res. J., 2:56. Jodhpur, India: Scientific Publishers
Buchanan R, Cull I, Otey F, Russel C, 1978. Hydrocarbon producing and rubber producing crops: Evaluation of United States plant species. Economic Botany, 32:131-145
Budowski G, 1987. Living fences in tropical America, a widespread agroforestry practice. In: Gholz HL, ed. Agroforestry Realities, Possibilities and Potentials. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Martinus Nijhoff, 169-178
Burkill IH, 1966. A dictionary of the economic products of the Malay Peninsular, Vols I & II. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives
Cabral A Lemos de, 1964. Utilizatao do oleo de Purgueira como combustfvel (Nota preliminar). Missao de Estudos Agron=micos do Ultramar (Junta de Investigatao do Ultramar). Comunicatao No. 46
Cabral A, 1991. Oil gloom to oil boom. Jatropha curcas a promising agroforestry crop. Nashik, India: Shree Offset Press
Caius JF, 1986. The Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of India. Jodhpur, India: Scientific Publishers
Chelmicki JCC de, Varnhagen FA de, 1841. Corografia Cabo-Verdiana ou Descripcao Geographico -Historica da Provincia das Ilhas de Cabo-Verde e Guine. Tomo II. Typ. De L.C. da Cunha, Lisbon, Portugal
Chong KY, Tan HTW, Corlett RT, 2009. A checklist of the total vascular plant flora of Singapore: native, naturalised and cultivated species. Singapore: Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, National University of Singapore, 273 pp. http://lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg/nus/pdf/PUBLICATION/LKCNH%20Museum%20Books/LKCNHM%20Books/flora_of_singapore_tc.pdf
Crothers M, 1998. Physic nut (Jatropha curcas). Agnote No. 583. Darwin, Australia: Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Northern Territory of Australia
Dehgan B, Webster GL, 1979. Morphology and infrageneric relationships of the genus Jatropha (Euphorbiaceae). University of California Publications in Botany, Vol. 74
Droit S, 1932. Recherches sur la graine et l'huile de PurghFre ou Pignon d'Inde (Jatropha curcas L.). Dissertation. UniversitT de Paris, FacultT de Pharmacie, Paris
Flora of China Editorial Committee, 2015. Flora of China. St. Louis, Missouri and Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA: Missouri Botanical Garden and Harvard University Herbaria. http://www.efloras.org/flora_page.aspx?flora_id=2
Francis G, Edinger R, Becker K, 2005. A concept for simultaneous wasteland reclamation, fuel production, and socio-economic development in degraded areas in India: need, potential and perspectives of Jatropha plantations. Natural Resources Forum, 29(1):12-24
Freitas AS Barjona de, 1906. A Purgueira e o seu oleo. Dissertation. Instituto de Agronomia e Veterinaria, Lisboa
Govaerts R, 2015. World Checklist of Euphorbiaceae. Richmond, UK: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Grierson AJC, Long DG, 1987. Flora of Bhutan including a Record of Plants from Sikkim, Vol. 1, Part 3. Edinburgh, UK: Royal Botanic Garden
Gupta RC, 1985. Pharmacognostic studies on 'Dravanti'. Part I Jatropha curcas Linn. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. (Plant Sci.), 94(1):65-82
Heller J, 1992. Untersuchungen nber genotypische Eigenschaften und Vermehrungs-und Anbauverfahren bei der Purgiernu¯ (Jatropha curcas L.) [Studies on genotypic characteristics and propagation and cultivation methods for physic nuts (Jatropha curcas L.)]. Hamburg, Germany: Dr. Kovac
Henning R, 1994. 1. Fachlicher Zwischenbericht zum Projekt: Produktion und Nutzung von Pflanzen÷l als Kraftstoff. PN 93.2202.5-01.100. Projet PourghFre DNHE - GTZ, Bamako, Mali
Holm LG, Pancho JV, Herberger JP, Plucknett DL, 1979. A Geographical Atlas of World Weeds. New York, USA: Wiley
I3N-Brasil, 2015. Base de dados nacional de espécies exóticas invasora (National database of exotic invasive species). Florianópolis - SC, Brazil: I3N Brasil, Instituto Hórus de Desenvolvimento e Conservação Ambiental. http://i3n.institutohorus.org.br
Jones N, Miller JH, 1992. Jatropha curcas: a multipurpose species for problematic sites. Land Resources Series No.1. Asia Technical Department, World Bank, Washington
Kar AK, Ashok Das, 1988. New records of fungi from India. Indian Phytopathology, 41(3):505
Katwal RPS, Soni PL, 2003. Biofuels: an opportunity for socio-economic development and cleaner environment. Indian Forester, 129(8):939-949
Kiefer J, 1986. Die Purgiernuss (Jatropha curcas L.) - Ernteprodukt, Verwendungsalternativen, wirtschaftliche _berlegungen. Diploma Thesis University Hohenheim, Stuttgart
Krauss U, 2012. 161 Invasive Alien Species present in Saint Lucia and their current status. Caribbean Alien Invasive Species Network (CIASNET), 12 pp. http://www.ciasnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/IAS-present-in-SLU-May-2012-revision.pdf
Krishnamurty T, 1993. Minor forest products of India. New Delhi, India: Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd
Lindley J, 1921. Flora medica. New Delhi, India: Ajay Book Service
Linnaeus C, 1753. Species plantarum. Jatropha. Stockholm, Sweden: Impensis Laurentii Salvii, 1006-1007
Little EL Jr, Woodbury RO, Wadsworth FH, 1974. Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, Vol. 2. Ag. Handbook 449. Washington, DC, USA: USDA
Martin G, Mayeux A, 1984. RTflexions sur les cultures olTagineuses TnergTtiques. II. - Le PourghFre (Jatropha curcas L.): un carburant possible. OlTagineux, 39(5):283-287
Mathur HH, 1986. Higher plants as possible source of petroleum substitutes. In: Proc. Workshop Petrocrops. Dehra Dun, India, 142-150
McVaugh R, 1945. The genus Jatropha in America: principal intrageneric groups. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club, 72:271-294
Merrill, 1903. Bur. Gov. Lab. Philipp, 6:27
Meyer JY, 2000. Preliminary review of the invasive plants in the Pacific islands (SPREP Member Countries). In: Sherley G, tech. ed. Invasive species in the Pacific: a technical review and draft regional strategy. South Pacific Regional Environment Programme, Samoa
Mnnch E, 1986. Die Purgiernuss (Jatropha curcas L.) - Botanik, +kologie, Anbau. Diploma thesis. University Hohenheim, Stuttgart
Morton JF, 1977. Major medicinal plants. Springfield, I, USA: C.C. Thomas
Orwa C, Mutua A, Kindt R, Jamnadass R, Simons A, 2009. Agroforestree Database: a tree reference and selection guide version 4.0. World Agroforestry Centre. http://www.worldagroforestry.org/af/treedb/
Oudhia P, Tripathi RS, 2002. Recent Progress in Medicinal Plant, Vol. 5. Crop Improvement, Production, Technology, Trade and Commerce. Texas, USA: Sci. Tech. Publishing LLC
Paroda RS, Mal B, 1989. New plant sources for food and industry in India. In: Wickens GE, Haq N, Day P, eds. New Crops for Food and Industry. London, UK: Chapman and Hall, 135-149
Pax F, 1910. Euphorbiaceae-Jatropheae. In: Engler A, ed. Das Pflanzenreich IV, Leipzig, Germany: Verlag von Wilhelm Engelmann, 147(42):1-148
Persinos GJ, Quimby MW, Schermerhorn JW, 1964. A preliminary pharmacognostical study of ten Nigerian plants. Econ. Bot., 18(4):329-341
Phillips S, 1975. A new record of Pestalotiopsis versicolor on the leaves of Jatropha curcas. Indian Phytopathology, 28(4):546
PIER, 2015. Pacific Islands Ecosystems at Risk. Honolulu, USA: HEAR, University of Hawaii. http://www.hear.org/pier/index.html
Pitt JL, 1999. Bellyache Bush (Jatropha gossypifolia). Agnote No. 480. Darwin, Australia: Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Northern Territory of Australia
PROTA, 2015. PROTA4U web database. Grubben GJH, Denton OA, eds. Wageningen, Netherlands: Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. http://www.prota4u.info
Rastogi RP, Mehrotra BN, 1991. Compendium of Indian Medicinal Plants, Vol. II (1970-79). New Delhi, India: Publication and Information Directorate
Roorda FA, 1991. Jatropha curcas - PourghFre. A review article. Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam
Sastry CSS, Kavathekar KY, 1990. Plants for reclamation of wastelands. New Delhi, India: Publication and Information Directorate, CSIR
Serra MCP, 1950. O valor da purgueira na economia de Cabo Verde. Rev. Ultramar, 3(17):9, 16
Sharma S, Kaushik JC, Kaushik N, 2001. Fusarium moniliforme causing root rot of jatropha. Indian Phytopathology, 54(2):275
Sharma TK, 2006. Insect pests on bio-diesel plant, Jatropha curcas. Bionotes, 8(4):103
Singh RP, 1970. Structure and development of seeds in Euphorbiaceae, Jatropha species. Beitr. Biol. Pflanz., 47:79-90
Solsoloy AD, 1993. Insecticidal activity of the formulated product and aqueous extract from physic nut, Jatropha curcas L. seed kernel oil on cotton insect pests. Cotton Res. Journal, 6(1/2):28-34
Srivastava GS, 1986. Petrocrops, their availability and cultivation. In: Proc. Workshop Petrocrops. Dehra Dun, India, 8-26
Standley PC, Steyermark JA, 1949. Flora of Guatemala. Fieldiana: Botany 24, VI (Chicago Natural History Museum)
Stevens PF, 2012. Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/
Stone BC, 1970. The flora of Guam. Micronesica., 6:380
Sukarin W, Yamada Y, Sakaguchi S, 1987. Characteristics of physic nut, Jatropha curcas L. as a new biomass crop in the tropics. Japan Agric. Res. Quart., 20(4):302-303
The Plant List, 2013. The Plant List: a working list of all plant species. Version 1.1. London, UK: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. http://www.theplantlist.org
Thomas OO, 1989. Re-examination of the antimicrobial activities of Xylopia aethiopica, Carica papaya, Ocimum gratissimum and Jatropha curcas. Fitoterapia, 60(2):147-155
USDA-ARS, 2015. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online Database. Beltsville, Maryland, USA: National Germplasm Resources Laboratory. https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysearch.aspx
USDA-NRCS, 2015. The PLANTS Database. Baton Rouge, USA: National Plant Data Center. http://plants.usda.gov/
Wang SC, Huffman JB, 1981. Botanochemicals: Supplements to petro-chemicals. 52 Physic nut. Jatropha curcas L. Econ. Bot., 35(4):369-382
Weiss E, 1989. Guide to Plants Tolerant of Arid and Semi-arid Conditions: Nomenclature and Potential Uses. Margraf, Weikersheim
Wiehr E, 1930. BeitrSge zur Kenntnis der Anatomie der wichtigsten Euphorbiaceensamen unter besonderer Berncksichtigung ihrer Erkennungsmerkmale in Futtermitteln. PhD. Dissertation. Mathematical-Natural Scientific Faculty, University Hamburg
Wiggins IL, Porter DM, 1971. Flora of the Galapagos Islands. Stanford, USA: Stanford University Press
Wilbur RL, 1954. A synopsis of Jatropha, subsection Eucurcas, with the description of two new species from Mexico. J. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc., 70:92-101
Yuncker TG, 1959. Plants of Tonga. B.P. Bishop Museum Bull., 220:165
Distribution References
Berhaut J, 1975. (Flore illustree du senegal. Dicotyledones. Tome II Connaracees a Euphorbiacees)., Dakar, Gouvrenement du Senegal, Ministrere du Development Rural et del' Hyraulique, Direction des Eaux et forets.
CABI, Undated. Compendium record. Wallingford, UK: CABI
CABI, Undated a. CABI Compendium: Status inferred from regional distribution. Wallingford, UK: CABI
CABI, Undated b. CABI Compendium: Status as determined by CABI editor. Wallingford, UK: CABI
Caius JF, 1986. The Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of India., Jodhpur, India: Scientific Publishers.
Govaerts R, 2015. World Checklist of Euphorbiaceae., Richmond, UK: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Grierson AJC, Long DG, 1987. Flora of Bhutan including a Record of Plants from Sikkim., 1 (3) Edinburgh, UK: Royal Botanic Garden.
I3N-Brasil, 2015. National database of exotic invasive species. (Base de dados nacional de espécies exóticas invasora)., Florianópolis - SC, Brazil: I3N Brasil, Instituto Hórus de Desenvolvimento e Conservação Ambiental. http://i3n.institutohorus.org.br
Krauss U, 2012. 161 Invasive Alien Species present in Saint Lucia and their current status. In: Caribbean Alien Invasive Species Network (CIASNET), 12 pp. http://www.ciasnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/IAS-present-in-SLU-May-2012-revision.pdf
Martin G, Mayeux A, 1984. (RTflexions sur les cultures olTagineuses TnergTtiques. II. - Le PourghFre (Jatropha curcas L.): un carburant possible). In: OlTagineux, 39 (5) 283-287.
Merrill -, 1903. [English title not available]. Bur. Gov. Lab. Philipp. 27.
PIER, 2015. Pacific Islands Ecosystems at Risk., Honolulu, USA: HEAR, University of Hawaii. http://www.hear.org/pier/index.html
PROTA, 2015. PROTA4U web database., [ed. by Grubben GJH, Denton OA]. Wageningen, Netherlands: Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. http://www.prota4u.info
USDA-NRCS, 2015. The PLANTS Database. Greensboro, North Carolina, USA: National Plant Data Team. https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov
Links to Websites
Top of pageWebsite | URL | Comment |
---|---|---|
GISD/IASPMR: Invasive Alien Species Pathway Management Resource and DAISIE European Invasive Alien Species Gateway | https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.m93f6 | Data source for updated system data added to species habitat list. |
Contributors
Top of page03/06/2015 Updated by:
Julissa Rojas-Sandoval, Department of Botany-Smithsonian NMNH, Washington DC, USA
29/02/2008 Updated by:
Nick Pasiecznik, Consultant, France
Distribution Maps
Top of pageSelect a dataset
Map Legends
-
CABI Summary Records
Map Filters
Unsupported Web Browser:
One or more of the features that are needed to show you the maps functionality are not available in the web browser that you are using.
Please consider upgrading your browser to the latest version or installing a new browser.
More information about modern web browsers can be found at http://browsehappy.com/