Jatropha curcas L., Euphorbiaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results: 

Reject, score: 11 (Go to the risk assessment (Australia)).
High risk, score: 17 (Go to the risk assessment (Pacific)).
Reject, score: 19 (Go to the risk assessment (U.S.)).
Reject, score: 19 (Go to the risk assessment (U.S.(Florida))).

Common name(s): [more details]

Chamorro: tuba-tuba, tuba-tuba

Chinese: ma feng shu

Chuukese: sáfeen kinas

English: Barbados nut, bubble bush, physic nut, purging nut

Fijian: banidakai, fiki, manggele, maqele, mbanindakai, ndrala, uto ni vavalangi, wiriwiri, wiriwiri ni vavalangi

French: médicinier, pignon d'Inde, pion d'Inde, purghère

Hawaiian: kuikui Pākē, kuku‘ihi

Maori (Cook Islands): fiki, pakarani, piki, tuitui pakarangi, tuke, tuke

Pohnpeian: seken, tuhkenlop

Rotuman: virvir, virviri

Samoan: pāfiki, pāfiki, pāfiti, pāfiti

Spanish: frailejón, piñón, piñón blanco

Tongan: fiki

Wallisian: fiki, fiki

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "A big shrub to 3 m tall; leaves usually 3-5-lobed, rarely simple, cordate, palmately nerved, dull olive green, the lobes acute, rather short; petioles 10-14 cm long; blades 10-19 cm long; panicles terminal or axillary; flowers yellow-green; sepals somewhat petaloid; petals basally coherent; male flower with internally pubescent corolla; stamens many, disc of 5 unequal glands; ovary 3 (sometimes 2 or 4)-celled; capsule gray-brown; seeds oily, compressed elliptic-oblong, ovary 1 cm long, nearly black"  (Stone, 1970; p. 380).

Habitat/ecology:  "It is well adapted to arid and semi-arid conditions. Most Jatropha species occur in the following seasonally dry areas: grassland-savannah (cerrado), thorn forest scrub and caatingas, but are completely lacking from moist Amazonia.

"Latitude: 28^oN to 30^oS.
Altitude: Provenances have been collected from altitudes varying from 7 to 1600 m above sea level. Usually it is found from 0 to 500.
Temperature: Average temperatures of provenance collection sites range from 11 to28^o C. It can survive a short, slight frost.
Water: Average annual precipitation of provenance collection sites is from 520 to 2000 mm. However the species survives well in semi-arid regions. It has stood several years without rainfall in Cape Verde.
Radiation:
Range & intensity: Bright sunlight.
Photoperiodism: It is daylight insensitive.
Physical: It grows on well-drained soils with good aeration and adapts well to marginal soils with low nutrient content." (Ecoport).

In Fiji, "cultivated and also naturalized along roadsides, on open slopes, and sometimes in forest"  (Smith, 1981; pp. 545-546).  In Hawai‘i, "cultivated and sparingly naturalized"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 623). In Tonga, "often grows in rows about plantations, along roads, and other places where it is used as living fence posts" (Yuncker, 1959; p. 165). In New Caledonia, "planté en haies et localement commun en fourré secondaires" (MacKee, 1994; p. 52).

In La Réunion, "naturalized in semi-dry vegetation along trails and river-banks. " (Christophe Lavergne, communication to Aliens listserver).  In Australia, "disturbed areas around old settlements" (Smith, 2002; pp. 30-31).

Propagation:  The fruit releases three large black seeds (nuts), each about 2 cm long and 1 cm in diameter. "The capsules split open when ripe to expel seeds away from the parent plant.  Seeds are also dispersed by water and in mud on vehicles and machinery or animals.  Some spread occurs from the tuberous roots which sucker." (Smith, 2002; pp. 30-31).

Native range:  Native of the Caribbean region, has been introduced as a hedge and ornamental plant to many countries including Europe, Africa, India, Indonesia, Philippines and some Pacific Islands and Australia (Ecoport).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Agrigan (Agrihan) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (pp. 140-141)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Agrigan (Agrihan) Island	introduced cultivated	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 30) Voucher cited: Falanruw 2180 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (pp. 140-141)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island	introduced cultivated	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 30) Vouchers cited: Anderson 528 (US, BISH, Fo, NY, L), Moore 322 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island	introduced	Ohba, T. (1994) (p. 59) Voucher cited: CBM-BS-58994
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1949) (voucher ID: BISH 143282) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1984) (voucher ID: BISH 635253) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1984) (voucher ID: BISH 635254) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1984) (voucher ID: BISH 1000034) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (pp. 140-141)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 143284) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1952) (voucher ID: BISH 143294) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1966) (voucher ID: BISH 659566) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (pp. 140-141)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (year unknown) (voucher ID: BISH 143280) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 143286) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1944) (voucher ID: BISH 143288) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 572850) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island	introduced	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 42)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 81)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 92)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	cultivated	Sykes, Bill (year unknown)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 143253) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Floreana Group	Floreana Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Isabela Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Volcán Sierra Negra, Isabela Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santiago Group	Santiago Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Chuuk Islands		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1947) (voucher ID: BISH 143287) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (pp. 140-141)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island	introduced	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Denslow, Julie S./Nelson, Duane/Mazawa, Thomas R. (2000) (p. 27)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (pp. 140-141)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced cultivated	Glassman, S. F. (1952) (p. 72)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced cultivated	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 86) Vouchers cited: M.J. Balick 3935 (NY, PTBG), R. Gallen 47 (NY, PTBG), L. Stemmermann 6530 (BISH), M. Takamatsu 792 (BISH)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1936) (voucher ID: BISH 143281) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1979) (voucher ID: BISH 503386) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2001) (voucher ID: PTBG 38943) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1998) (voucher ID: PTBG 33312) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (pp. 140-141)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Kanathea Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 545-546) Voucher cited: Bryan 573
Fiji Fiji Islands	Kanathea Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1924) (voucher ID: BISH 143274) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Kanathea Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1924) (voucher ID: BISH 143275) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Kanathea Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1924) (voucher ID: BISH 143276) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Lakemba Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 545-546) Voucher cited: Garnock-Jones 778
Fiji Fiji Islands	Ovalau Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 545-546) Vouchers cited: Gillespie 4576, Weiner 166
Fiji Fiji Islands	Ovalau Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1928) (voucher ID: BISH 143273) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Ovalau Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1972) (voucher ID: BISH 448634) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Rotuma Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1938) (voucher ID: BISH 619160) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Rotuma Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1938) (voucher ID: BISH 619167) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Rotuma Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1991) (voucher ID: BISH 637928) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 545-546) Vouchers cited: DA 3778, Bierhorst F157
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 545-546) Vouchers cited: Greenwood 355, DA 11328, Gillespie 4397, DA 10735, Meebold 17069, Weiner 101, DA 11069
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1958) (voucher ID: BISH 14840) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1957) (voucher ID: BISH 14841) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1927) (voucher ID: BISH 143277) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1932) (voucher ID: BISH 143278) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1971) (voucher ID: BISH 448545) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (1997) (p. 103)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Cultivée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 109) Voucher cited: BRY 26569
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Voucher cited: J. Florence & R. Tahuaitu 11785 (PAP) Cultivée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (1997) (p. 103)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Voucher cited: J. Florence & R. Tahuaitu 11785 (PAP) Cultivée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1992) (voucher ID: BISH 662502) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 109) Voucher cited: Grant 4598
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (1997) (p. 103)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Cultivée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (1997) (p. 103)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 380)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (pp. 140-141)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1968) (voucher ID: BISH 23018) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 143283) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 143285) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1911) (voucher ID: BISH 143290) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1918) (voucher ID: BISH 143291) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1966) (voucher ID: BISH 659673) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1968) (voucher ID: BISH 697222) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced	Wester, Lyndon (1992) (p. 137)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Parker, James L./Parsons, Bobby (2012) (p. 59) Voucher cited: J. Parker & R. Parsons BIED94 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 623) Voucher cited: Degener et al. 19330 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Ni‘ihau Island	introduced	Wester, Lyndon (1992) (p. 137)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced	Wester, Lyndon (1992) (p. 137)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Lifou	introduced cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (pp. 52-53) Voucher cited: Däniker 2409 (Z)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Maré	introduced cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (pp. 52-53) Voucher cited: Däniker 2409a (Z)
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 93)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (pp. 52-53) Vouchers cited: MacKee 13979, MacKee 16262, MacKee 36508 Spontané
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 44)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Raulerson, L./Rinehart, A. F./Falanruw, M. C. (1996) (p. 28)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 81)
Papua New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago	Bismarck Archipelago	introduced invasive cultivated	Peekel, P. G. [translated by E. E. Henty] (1984) (p. 312) Cultivated throughout the tropics and sometimes ± wild.
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced cultivated	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 449) In hedges, usually very common in and about towns.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 67)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 143266) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1893) (voucher ID: BISH 143269) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1921) (voucher ID: BISH 143270) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Ha‘ano Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 10)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Lifuka Island	introduced cultivated	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 165) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15774
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Lifuka Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1953) (voucher ID: BISH 143264) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Lifuka and Foa Islands	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 10)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Tofua Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 651844) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Tofua Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 1000816) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	‘Uiha Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 10)
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands	introduced cultivated	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 165) "Frequent throughout Tonga".
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1921) (voucher ID: BISH 143267) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1969) (voucher ID: BISH 697211) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 10)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island	introduced cultivated	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 165) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15637
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1953) (voucher ID: BISH 143263) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1987) (voucher ID: BISH 603768) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 10)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced cultivated	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 165) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15116
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1953) (voucher ID: BISH 143265) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas L.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1989) (voucher ID: PTBG 3905) Taxon name on voucher: Jatropha curcas
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 10)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 165) Cited: Crosby.
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced invasive	Burkill, I. H. (1900) (p. 53)
Tuvalu Tuvalu (Ellis) Islands	Nui Atoll		Woodroffe, C. D. (1985) (p. 13) Voucher cited: Woodroffe 184 (CHR)
Tuvalu Tuvalu (Ellis) Islands	Tuvalu Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 93)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanuatu (Republic of)		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 93)
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Futuna Island	introduced invasive	Morat, Ph./Veillon, J.-M. (1985) Morat & Veillon, 1985, cited in Meyer, 2007
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis and Futuna Islands	introduced	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 107) "Potential invader". Lowland dense forest.

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Northern Territory	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Nicholas M. (2002) (pp. 30-31) Naturalized
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Nicholas M. (2002) (pp. 30-31) Naturalized and weedy.
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2011) Cultivated. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Sichuan, Yunnan.
China China	Hong Kong	introduced cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 183)
Costa Rica Costa Rica	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Ecuador (Mainland) Ecuador	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
El Salvador El Salvador	El Salvador (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Guatemala Guatemala	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Honduras Honduras	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 199)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Nicaragua Nicaragua	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Panama Panama	Panama (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 199)
Perú Perú	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 52) Cultivated only
Taiwan Taiwan	Taiwan Island	introduced cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2011)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	introduced cultivated	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 117)
Comoros Comoro Islands	Anjouan (Nzwani) Island	introduced invasive	Vos, P. (2004) (p. 6)
Comoros Comoro Islands	Grande Comore (Njazidja) Island	introduced invasive	Vos, P. (2004) (p. 6)
Comoros Comoro Islands	Mohéli (Mwali) Island	introduced invasive	Vos, P. (2004) (p. 6)
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Lavergne, Christophe (2006) "Cultivé/naturalisé (rudérale)"
French Territory of Mayotte Mayotte Islands	Mayotte Island	introduced invasive	Vos, P. (2004) (p. 6)
French Territory of Mayotte Mayotte Islands	Mayotte Island	introduced cultivated	Comité français de l'Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature en France (2010) Naturalisée
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Frégate Island		Robertson, S. A./Todd, D. M. (1983) (p. 50) Voucher cited: Robertson 2711

Comments:  Thinking of planting Jatropha curcas for biofuel?  First read "The Extraordinary Collapse of Jatropha as a Global Biofuel".

Reported as a potential invader of lowland forest on Wallis and Futuna Islands (Meyer, 2000; p. 107).

On Tonga, planted as living fenceposts from whence it escapes and naturalizes (Space & Flynn, 2001).

Declared noxious species in Western Australia (Smith, 2002; pp. 30-31).

Additional information:
Information from the Purdue University NewCROP web site.
Information from the World Agroforestry Centre's AgroForestryTree Database.

Additional online information about Jatropha curcas is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Jatropha curcas as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Jatropha curcas may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 0. Voucher specimen #BISH 143280 (collector unknown; collector's voucher number unknown).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1893. Voucher specimen #BISH 143269 (Reinecke, Dr. 182).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1911. Voucher specimen #BISH 143290 (McGregor, R.C. 531).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1918. Voucher specimen #BISH 143291 (Nelson, P. 172).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1921. Voucher specimen #BISH 143267 (McKern, W.C. 116).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1921. Voucher specimen #BISH 143270 (Eames, A.J. 15).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1924. Voucher specimen #BISH 143274 (Bryan Jr, E.H. 573).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1924. Voucher specimen #BISH 143275 (Bryan Jr, E.H. 573).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1924. Voucher specimen #BISH 143276 (Bryan Jr, E.H. 573).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1927. Voucher specimen #BISH 143277 (Gillespie, J.W. 4397).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1928. Voucher specimen #BISH 143273 (Gillespie, J.W. 4576).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1929. Voucher specimen #BISH 143253 (Wilder, G.P. 896).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1929. Voucher specimen #BISH 143266 (Christophersen, E. 227).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1932. Voucher specimen #BISH 143278 (Meebold, A. 17069).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1936. Voucher specimen #BISH 143281 (Takamastu, M. 792).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1938. Voucher specimen #BISH 619160 (St.John, H. 19340).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1938. Voucher specimen #BISH 619167 (St.John, H. 19078).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1944. Voucher specimen #BISH 143288 (Cameron, C.E.R.; collector's voucher number unknown).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1946. Voucher specimen #BISH 143283 (Fosberg, F.R. 25373).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1946. Voucher specimen #BISH 143284 (Fosberg, F.R. 25110).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1946. Voucher specimen #BISH 143285 (Fosberg, F.R. 25373).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1946. Voucher specimen #BISH 143286 (Hosaka, E.Y. 2926).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1946. Voucher specimen #BISH 572850 (Hosaka, E.Y. 2926).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1947. Voucher specimen #BISH 143287 (Wong, C.C.Y. 262).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1949. Voucher specimen #BISH 143282 (Anderson, D. 528).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1952. Voucher specimen #BISH 143294 (Kondo, Y.; collector's voucher number unknown).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1953. Voucher specimen #BISH 143263 (Yuncker, T.G. 15637).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1953. Voucher specimen #BISH 143264 (Yuncker, T.G. 15774).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1953. Voucher specimen #BISH 143265 (Yuncker, T.G. 15116).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1957. Voucher specimen #BISH 14841 (Ledua, M.K. 11069).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1958. Voucher specimen #BISH 14840 (Koroiveibau, D. 11328).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1966. Voucher specimen #BISH 659566 (Evans, M. 2045).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1966. Voucher specimen #BISH 659673 (Evans, M. 1463).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1968. Voucher specimen #BISH 23018 (Cushing-Falanruw, M.V. 775).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1968. Voucher specimen #BISH 697222 (Cushing-Falanruw, M.V. 775).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1969. Voucher specimen #BISH 697211 (Weiner, M.A. T 19b).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1971. Voucher specimen #BISH 448545 (Weiner, M.A. MW-71-7-101).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1972. Voucher specimen #BISH 448634 (Weiner, M.A. MW-72-F-166).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1979. Voucher specimen #BISH 503386 (Stemmermann, R.L. 6530).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1982. Voucher specimen #BISH 651844 (Buelow, G. 2687).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1982. Voucher specimen #BISH 1000816 (G.Buelow 2687).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1984. Voucher specimen #BISH 635253 (Herbst, D.R. 7275).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1984. Voucher specimen #BISH 635254 (Herbst, D.R. 7275).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1984. Voucher specimen #BISH 1000034 (Herbst, D.R. 7275).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1987. Voucher specimen #BISH 603768 (O'Rourke, L. 228).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1991. Voucher specimen #BISH 637928 (McClatchey, W.C. 212).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1992. Voucher specimen #BISH 662502 (Florence 11785).

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