Jatropha
Jatropha
English name: Barbados nut
Scientific name: Jatropha curcas L.
Bangla name: ‘Baghverenda’
Taxonomic Position According to Cronquist (1981)
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Division | Magnoliophyte |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Malpighiales |
| Family | Euphorbiaceae |
| Genus | Jatropha |
| Species | J. curcas |
Botanical Description of Jatropha
Habit: A glabrous, soft-wooded shrub or small tree.
Root: Tap root system
Stem: Stem glabrous, up to 6 m tall, fleshy
Leaf: Simple, petiolate, blade cordate
Plants are monoecious or dioecious
Flower: Small, sepal generally 3-5, petal usually absent
Androecium: Stamen 8, free
Gynoecium: Ovary superior, 3-4 chambered
Fruit: A capsule.
Chromosome number: 2n=44
Economic Importance: The oil from this plant is mainly converted into biodiesel for use in diesel engines. The cake can be used for fish or animal feed (if detoxified), biomass feedstock to power electricity plants, or as bio-gas or high-quality organic fertilizer. The leaves and fruits are used as medicinal purposes.