Jatropha curcas

Description
Scientific Names: Jatropha curcas
Common Names: Purging Nut, Physic Nut, Barbados Nut, Arandi, Jarak
Plant Type: It's a dioecious small tree or large shrub.
Height: 15-20 feet.
Native Habitat: It's cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. Full sun, well drained Soils but grows on almost any soil, such as sandy-saline. It does not need much water; is resistant to long periods of drought and can withstand short spells of light frost.
Native Range: Jatropha curcas is native to the American tropics, most likely Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean. It is cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions around the world and becoming naturalized in some areas.
Bloom Time: Seasonal bloomer.

Jatropha curcas is a dioecious small tree or large shrub that grows 15 to 20 feet tall. It's native to Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean, but has been widely planted throughout the tropics for a number of commercial uses, perhaps now most predominately for production of biofuels. Maplelike, 3-5 lobed, pale green leaves (to 6 inches wide) are cordate at the bases. Green and yellow flowers bloom in spring. Branches have gray skin smooth and liquid emitting white sap when cut. Flowers give way to the green pods, each with 2-3 black oily seeds. Pods mature to yellow-red before splitting open to release seeds. Seeds are not recommended as a food, but contain oils that can be used to make candles, soap and biofuels. Harvest the seeds can be pressed for biodiesel production. Each square miles of the plant is expected to produce 2,000 barrels of oil per year. Seed oil content of each ranged between 30-40%. Cake remaining after pressing can be used to produce biogas and fertilizer. Jatropha curcas is a member of the spurge family and is closely related to castor oil plant (Ricinus communis).

Full sun, well drained Soils but grows on almost any soil, such as sandy-saline. It does not need much water; is resistant to long periods of drought and can withstand short spells of light frost. Jatropha curcas grows best on well drained soils (pref pH 6-9) with good ventilation, but is well adapted to marginal soils with low nutrient content. Jatropha curcas grows well with more than 600mm of rainfall per year, and it can survive long periods drought. The plant throws its leaves during a prolonged drought. Jatropha curcas preferred temperatures averaging 20-28 degrees Celsius (68-85 degrees Fahrenheit). It can, however, withstand a very light frost which causes it to lose all its leaves and may produce a sharp decline in seed yield. Jatropha curcas may produce for over 35 years.

Uses
Jatropha curcas is a non-edible oil crop used mainly to produce bio-diesel. In addition to biodiesel production, the by-product of Jatropha curcas transesterification process can be used to make a wide range of products including high quality paper, energy pellets, soap, cosmetics, toothpaste, embalming fluid, making pipe joint cement, cough medicine and as a moistening agent in tobacco. In Suriname, this plant are used as traditional medicine. The leaves of this plant are used against stomachache, when diagnosed in children: boiled leaves for conditions of the gums and throat, the tea of the leaves are used to stoppage of urine, constipation, backache and inflammation of ovaries.