What is "jatropha curcas"

Physic \Phys"ic\, n. [OE. phisike, fisike, OF. phisique, F. physique knowledge of nature, physics, L. physica, physice, fr. Gr. ?, fr. fysiko`s natural, from fy`sis nature, fr. ? to produce, grow, akin to E. be. See Be, and cf. Physics, Physique.]

1. The art of healing diseases; the science of medicine; the theory or practice of medicine. ``A doctor of physik.''
   --Chaucer.

2. A specific internal application for the cure or relief of sickness; a remedy for disease; a medicine.

3. Specifically, a medicine that purges; a cathartic.

4. A physician. [R.]
   --Shak.

   Physic nut (Bot.), a small tropical American euphorbiaceous tree ( Jatropha Curcas), and its seeds, which are well flavored, but contain a drastic oil which renders them dangerous if eaten in large quantities.

Barbados \Bar*ba"dos\ or Barbadoes \Bar*ba"does\, n. A West Indian island, giving its name to a disease, to a cherry, etc.

Barbados cherry (Bot.), a genus of trees of the West Indies ( Malpighia) with an agreeably acid fruit resembling a cherry.

Barbados leg (Med.), a species of elephantiasis incident to hot climates.

Barbados nuts, the seeds of the Jatropha curcas, a plant growing in South America and elsewhere. The seeds and their acrid oil are used in medicine as a purgative. See Physic nut. [1913 Webster] ||

Jatropha curcas is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, that is native to the American tropics, most likely Mexico and Central America. It is cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, becoming naturalized in some areas. The specific epithet, "curcas", was first used by Portuguese doctor Garcia de Orta more than 400 years ago and is of uncertain origin. Common names include Barbados nut, purging nut, physic nut, or JCL (abbreviation of Jatropha curcas Linnaeus).

J. curcas is a poisonous, semi- evergreen shrub or small tree, reaching a height of . It is resistant to a high degree of aridity, allowing it to be grown in deserts.

The seeds contain 27-40% oil (average: 34.4%) that can be processed to produce a high-quality biodiesel fuel, usable in a standard diesel engine. The seeds are also a source of the highly poisonous toxalbumin curcin or jatrophin.