Barbados nut

Jatropha curcas belongs to the genus Jatropha and is part of the Euphorbiaceae family. It is native to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America, but has become naturalized or invasive in many tropical regions. The plant is known by several common names, including Barbados nut and poison nut. It is sometimes mistakenly called the castor oil plant in parts of Africa and Asia, though it is not related to Ricinus communis. The specific epithet 'curcas' was first used over 400 years ago by Garcia de Orta. The species was first described in 1753 by Linnaeus. It is found in various locations, including parts of Colombia and other tropical regions.