Jatropha Curcas Seeds

Jatropha curcas a large shrub, 3 - 4 m high, native of tropica America, occuring almost throughout India and in Andaman Islands. Leaves alternate, 10 - 15 cm X 7.5 - 12.5cm broadly ovate, cordate, acute, usually palmately 3 or 5 lobed, glabrous; flowers in loose panicles of cymes, yellowish green, c 7 mm. across; fruits c. 2.5 cm. long, ovoid, black, breaking in to three 2 valved cocci; seeds ovoid-oblong, dull brownish black.  The plant is reported to have been introduced into Asia and Africa by the Portuguese as an oil-yielding plant.  It is cultivated to a certain extent as an oilseed crop in Cape Verde Islands; a yield of 350-1000 lb of seeds per acre has been reported.