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14. Jatropha curcas Linn. Sp. PI. 1006. 1753. (Fig. 204).
EUPHORBIACEAE
Engl. Physic Nut, Purging Nut, Poison Nut. Sinh. Ratacrandu, Pcla-ini, Weta-erandu;
Tarn. Adalai, Kadalamanakku, Kaitta, Kattamanakku, Kattukottai, Kuribaravuni, Naligadi,
Nikkurottam, Tiravadi, Vcllaiyamanakku; Hindi Bagberenda, Bagbherenda, B he rend a,
Jangliarandi, Paharierand, Safcdarand, Safedind; Sans. Akhuparnika, Chitra, Dravanti,
Kananeranda, Mushikaparni, Nyagrodhi, Parvateranda, Pratyakshreni, Randa^. Shanbari,
Sutashreni, Vrisha.
A large shrub or small tree containing a sticky opalescent juice; leaves simple, alternate,
10—15 cm long, 7.5—12.5 cm broad, broadly ovate, cordate, acute, usually palmately 3-or
5- fid, glabrous; petioles 7.5—23 cm long, stipules absent; flowers unisexual, monoecious,
yellowish—green in loose axillary cymose panicles, peduncles and pedicels more or less tomentose,
bracts linear; male flowers: about 7.5 mm across; calyx 3.8 mm long, deeply 5- cleft, lobes
elliptic, obtuse, imbricate; corolla longer than calyx, campanulate, villous within, lobes 5, disc
of 5 large glands; stamens 10, biseriate, filaments of the inner series connate half way up in a
central column, anthers oblong, apiculate, erect, pistillode absent; female flowers: calyx 5 mm
long, lobes ovate, acute, corolla scarcely exceeding the calyx, disc as in the male; ovary superior,
3-locular with a single pendulous ovule in each chamber, styles connate at the base, stigmas
large, lanceolate; fruit 2.5 cm long, ovoid, black breaking up into three, 2-valved cocci;
seeds ovoid-oblong, dull brownish black, about 1.8 cm long.
Flowers during May and August.
Illustrations. Kirtikar and Basu, Indian Med. Plants, pi. 8675, 1933, Herb. Peradeniya,
drawing.
Distribution. A native of Mexico and now grown in India, Ceylon, Philippine Islands
and other tropical countries. In Ceylon, it is a very common plant grown along boundaries.
Ceylon. Central Prov., Peradeniya, Bot. Gard., cultivated, Herb. Peradeniya, Aug. 1908.
Composition. The bark contains a trace of a volatile oil, saponin, tannin and a wax.
The leaves and- stems contain an alkaloid. The seeds contain a yellow fixed oil which consist
of the glycerides of a characteristic acid, curcanoleic acid, and other acids. The toxalbumen,
curcurin remains with the seed cake. The root yields a yellow oil, which is strongly anthelmintic.
Uses. The oil extracted from the seeds is a drastic purgative and used externally
for cutaneous diseases and rheumatism. It is also used as a remedy for dropsy, sciatica, paralysis
and worms. In the Philippines, a decoction of the leaves and roots is used as a cure for diarrhoea.
The bark is employed as a poultice for sprains and dislocations and to cure toothache. In
Cambodia, the leaves are applied to wounds, the latex to sores and ulcers and the fresh juice for
arresting bleeding or haemorrhage from wounds, cuts and abrasions. It is a local remedy for
scabies, eczema and ringworm. In Goa the root bark is applied externally for rheumatism.
The fresh stems are used as toothbrushes to strengthen the gums and cure gum boils.
In Ghana, the leaves are commonly used in enema preparations. They are also widely
used to treat guinea-worm sores. In India and Malaya, the leaves are used as a cataplasm to the
mammae which acts as a lactagogue, the latex as a styptic.
Commercially, the oil from the seed is employed in the manufacture of soaps and candles
and as an illuminant.
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