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spicy jatropha

Jatropha integerrima

Photo by Kristel
Published on Project Noah
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14.65, 121.25

Field Notes

Description:

Jatropha is a genus of flowering plants in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. The name derived from Greek word (iatros) meaning "physician" and (trophe) meaning "nutrition" hence the common name "physic nut". It contains approximately 170 species of succulent plants, shrubs and trees. As with many members of the family Euphorbiaceae, Jatropha contains compounds that are highly toxic.

Habitat:

garden

Notes:

''Jatropha'' plants contain several toxic compounds, including lectin, saponin, carcinogenic phorbol, and a trypsin inhibitor. The seeds of this genus are also a source of the highly poisonous toxalbumin curcin. Despite this, the seeds are occasionally eaten after roasting, which reduces some of the toxicity. Its sap is a skin irritant, and ingesting as few as three untreated seeds can be fatal to humans.

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Photographed
PublishedJuly 4, 2013

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