Jatropha macrorhiza

''Jatropha'' is a genus of flowering plants in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. The name is derived from the Greek words ἰατρός (''iatros''), meaning "physician", and τροφή (''trophe''), meaning "nutrition", hence the common name physic nut. Another common name is nettlespurge. It contains approximately 170 species of succulent plants, shrubs and trees (some are deciduous, like ''Jatropha curcas''). Most of these are native to the Americas, with 66 species found in the Old World. Plants produce separate male and female flowers. As with many members of the family Euphorbiaceae, ''Jatropha'' contains compounds that are highly toxic. ''Jatropha'' species have traditionally been used in basketmaking, tanning and dye production. In the 2000s, one species, ''Jatropha curcas'', generated interest as an oil crop for biodiesel production and also medicinal importance when used as lamp oil; native Mexicans in the Veracruz area developed by selective breeding a ''Jatropha curcas'' variant lacking the toxic compounds, yielding a better income when used as source for biodiesel, because of its edible byproduct. Toxicity may return if edible ''Jatropha'' is pollinated by toxic types.

Uses

The stems of haat (''Jatropha cuneata'') are used for basketmaking by the Seri people in Sonora, Mexico. The stems are roasted, split and soaked through an elaborate process. The reddish dye that is often used is made from the root of another plant species, ''Krameria grayi''. Spicy jatropha ('' J. integerrima'') is cultivated as an ornamental in the tropics for its continuously blooming crimson flowers. Buddha belly plant ('' J. podagrica'') was used to tan leather and produce a red dye in Mexico and the southwestern United States. It is also used as a house plant.

The oil from ''Jatropha curcas'' is mainly converted into biodiesel for use in diesel engines. The cake resulting from oil extraction, a protein-rich product, can be used for fish or animal feed (if detoxified). It is also a biomass feedstock to power electricity plants or to produce biogas, and a high-quality organic fertilizer.

In 2007, Goldman Sachs cited ''Jatropha curcas'' as one of the best candidates for future biodiesel production.Jatropha Plant Gains Steam In Global Race for Biofuels
/ref> It is resistant to drought and pests, and produces seeds containing 27-40% oil, averaging 34.4%. The remaining press cake of jatropha seeds after oil extraction could also be considered for energy production. However, despite their abundance and use as oil and reclamation plants, none of the ''Jatropha'' species have been properly domesticated and, as a result, their productivity is variable, and the long-term impact of their large-scale use on soil quality and the environment is unknown.World Agroforestry Centre (2007
When oil grows on trees
World Agroforestry Centre press release. 26 April 2009. 2009 research found that Jatropha biodiesel production requires significantly more water than other common biofuel crops, and that initial yield estimates were high. Earlier, higher estimates from Worldwatch Institute had suggested that 1 acre of cultivation could yield 202 gallons (4.8 barrels) of biodiesel.

''Jatropha curcas'' is also being studied for use as a carbon sequestration plant in arid regions.

Toxicity

Much like other members of the family Euphorbiaceae, members of the genus ''Jatropha'' contain several toxic compounds. The seeds of ''Jatropha curcas'' contain the highly poisonous toxalbumin curcin, a lectin dimer. They also contain carcinogenic phorbol. 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. In 2005, Western Australia banned ''Jatropha gossypiifolia'' as invasive and highly toxic to people and animals. It continues to be used as a medicine in certain geographic regions; however one study found the dried leaf to have no anti-fungal activity.

Selected species

* ''Jatropha acanthophylla'' Loefgr.
* '' Jatropha bullockii'' E.J.Lott
* ''Jatropha cardiophylla'' (Torr.) Müll.Arg. – Sangre de Cristo
* ''Jatropha cathartica'' Terán & Berland. – Berlandier's nettlespurge
* ''Jatropha chamelensis'' Pérez-Jiménez
* ''Jatropha costaricensis'' G.L.Webster & Poveda
* '' Jatropha cinerea'' (Ortega) Müll.Arg. – Arizona nettlespurge
* ''Jatropha cuneata'' Wiggins & Rollins – Limberbush, haat (pronounced )
* ''Jatropha curcas'' L. – Physic nut, piñoncillo, habb-el-melúk
* ''Jatropha dhofarica'' Radcl.-Sm.
* ''Jatropha dioica'' Sessé – Leatherstem
* ''Jatropha elliptica'' (Pohl) Oken
* ''Jatropha excisa'' Griseb.
* ''Jatropha gossypiifolia'' L. – Bellyache bush
* ''Jatropha hernandiifolia'' Vent. – Wild oilnut
* ''Jatropha integerrima'' Jacq. syn. ''J. pandurifolia'' – Spicy jatropha, called in Chinese "ri ri ying", which means "every-day-flowered cherry blossom"Staff, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jatropha pandurifolia

* ''Jatropha macrantha'' Mull. Arg – Huanarpo macho or Peruvian Viagra
* '' Jatropha macrorhiza'' Benth. – Ragged nettlespurge
* '' Jatropha multifida'' L. – Coralbush
* ''Jatropha nudicaulis'' Benth.
* ''Jatropha podagrica'' Hook. – Buddha belly plant, bottleplant shrub
* ''Jatropha unicostata'' Balf.f.

Gallery

Image:Jatropha multifida 1.JPG, Flowers of ''Jatropha multifida'' in El Crucero, Managua, Nicaragua.
Image:Jatropha multifida 2.JPG, ''Jatropha multifida'' plant in El Crucero, Managua, Nicaragua.
Image:Jatropha multifida 3.JPG, Flowers of ''Jatropha multifida'' with blue butterfly in El Crucero, Managua, Nicaragua.
Image:Jatropha multifida 4.JPG, Flowers and leaves of ''Jatropha multifida'' in El Crucero, Managua, Nicaragua.
Image:Jatropha_integerrima_1.jpg, ''Jatropha integerrima''
Image:J_podagrica_ies.jpg, ''Jatropha podagrica''
Jatropha pandurifolia 01.jpg, ''Jatropha pandurifolia''
Jatropha-podagrica-1- 1200.jpg, Close-up of ''Jatropha podagrica''
File:เข็มปัตตาเวีย Jatropha integerrima Jacq. (3).jpg, ''Jatropha integerrima'' Jacq. in Thailand
File:Flowers of Jatropha integerrima.jpg, Jatropha integerrima in West Bengal, India.

Formerly placed here

*'' Aleurites moluccanus'' (L.) Willd. (as ''J. moluccana'' L.)
*''Baliospermum montanum'' (Willd.) Müll.Arg. (as ''J. montana'' Willd.)
*'' Cnidoscolus aconitifolius'' (Mill.) I.M.Johnst. (as ''J. aconitifolia'' Mill.)
*''Cnidoscolus angustidens'' Torr. (as ''J. angustidens'' (Torr.) Müll.Arg.)
*'' Cnidoscolus quercifolius'' Pohl (as ''J. phyllacantha'' Müll.Arg.)
*''Cnidoscolus stimulosus'' (Michx.) Engelm. & A.Gray (as ''J. stimulosa'' Michx.)
*''Cnidoscolus texanus'' (Müll. Arg.) Small (as ''J. texana'' Müll.Arg.)
*'' Cnidoscolus tubulosus'' (Müll. Arg.) I.M.Johnst. (as ''J. tepiquensis'' Costantin & Gallaud and ''J. tubulosa'' Müll.Arg.)
*''Cnidoscolus urens'' (L.) Arthur (as ''J. urens'' L.)
*'' Hyaenanche globosa'' (Gaertn.) Lamb. (as ''J. globosa'' Gaertn.)
* ''Manihot esculenta'' subsp. ''esculenta'' (as ''J. dulcis'' J.F.Gmel. and ''J. manihot'' L.)
*''Manihot carthagenensis'' subsp. ''carthagenensis'' (as ''J. carthagenensis'' Jacq.)
*''Manihot tripartita'' subsp. ''tripartita'' (as ''J. tripartita'' Spreng.)

Synonyms

* ''Adenorhopium'' Rchb.
* ''Adenoropium'' Pohl
* ''Castiglionia'' Ruiz & Pav.
* ''Collenucia'' Chiov.
* ''Curcas'' Adans.
* ''Jatropa'' Scop., orth. var.
* ''Loureira'' Cav.
* ''Mesandrinia'' Raf.
* ''Mozinna'' Ortega
* ''Zimapania'' Engl. & Pax

References

External links

BBC News report of Jatropa Biofuel
* Case study report on the relationship with food security, provides references and background information.
*

Any lessons for Ghana? India jatropha failure

Jatropha not a miracle biofuel crop after all
*

{{Taxonbar, from=Q152986

Euphorbiaceae genera
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus