Jatropha curcas
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Jatropha curcas
Scientific name:
Jatropha curcas
Family:
Euphorbiaceae
Local names:
English: Physic nut or Purging nut
Kenya: Kyaiki kyakyeni or Kya muunyi (Kamba), Jok (Luo) |
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| Geographical Distribution of Physic nut (red marked) |
One of more than 150 Jatropha species, mainly occuring in tropical America and Africa. This species was introduced to
Africa centuries ago and is now naturalized
in drier areas in many countries. A decorative plant frequently planted as a live fence around homesteads or used as a boundary or grave marker. Also naturalized in bushland and along rivers in the western, central and coastal parts of Kenya and in western and southwestern lowlands of Ethiopia. Agroclimatic Zones II - III.
| An erect, stiffly branched succulent shrub or
small tree 3-4m. Bark: Thin and yellow-grey with a papery peel; an unpleasant milky sap when cut. Leaves: Alternate and simple with 3-5 shallow lobes, to 15 cm long, widely rounded at the base on a stalk to 16 cm. Flowers: Small, yellow-green, shortly stalked on branched heads with a shorter stalk than the leaves. Fruit: Ovid capsules, slightly three-angled 2.5 - 4 cm long, yellow when ripe dark when hardening, contain 3 mottled blackish thin-shelled oblong seeds that measure 20 mm by 12mm. When crushed the seeds produce 35 - 37 % yellow oil. |
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| Uses:
Oil from seeds is used for making soap and
lighting lamps. Latex contains Jatrophine
which has anti-microbial and anti-fungal
properties; also used an ointment against
skin disease, rheumatism and for sores in livestock. Bark yields dark blue dye.
Twigs are used for brushing teeth. Leaf
from juice used for treating external piles.
Decoction of leaves used against cough and
as an antiseptic at birth. Sap is used to treat
wounds and bleeding and roots are reported
to be used as an antidote for snakebites.
The whole plant is used as live fence,
boundary marking, ornamental. Propagation: Seedlings, cuttings. Seed:
Collect when capsules split open. About
2,400 seeds per kg; germination rate 70-
100%. Dried seeds are soaked in cold water
overnight and then sown directly onto
seedbed. Germination takes place in 12-15
days.Treatment: Do not dry fruits on roasting surfaces if for planting. Store them for 3 months before use to break primary dormancy; but use them before 15 months. Store seeds in low moisture. Storage: Seeds are oily and do not store for long. Storage in dry-air condition with moisture content <5% is preferred. |
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Fast growing; pruning, trimming as a fence.
Remarks: The name Jatropha comes from Greek words meaning physician and food. The oil has purgative properties; seeds are toxic and should not be swallowed. Even the remains pressed from seeds can be fatal.
- Bekele-Tesemma, B. (2007). Useful trees and shrubs for Ethiopia. World Agroforestry Centre, Nairobi, Kenya. ISBN 92-9059-2125
www.worldagroforestry.org - Maundu, P. and Tengnäs, B. (2005). Useful trees and shrubs for Kenya. World Agroforestry Centre. ISBN: 9966-896-70-8
www.worldagroforestry.org