Purging nut

Anyone walking in the (sub)tropics who comes across this plant should not assume they've found an edible nut and eat a handful (this actually happened to my colleague). The result is a massive purging session, to put it bluntly: you'll get severe diarrhea.
In fact, this is a poisonous shrub belonging to the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae). The seeds of the plant produce jatropha oil, which can be used as biofuel. The shrub grows 5-8 m high in the ground and has fairly large, ivy-shaped leaves. The plant's fruits contain seeds that can contain 20-40% oil, suitable for biodiesel production.
Plantations of this plant were enthusiastically established. The plant can tolerate dry soil and therefore did not seem to directly compete with food crops. However, low oil prices have dashed many investments, and many plantations are now on the verge of bankruptcy. In addition, yields on poor soil are disappointing, so irrigation and fertilization are necessary.
In the past, the plant was used for medicinal purposes. The Dutch name is derived from "purgeren," which is a synonym for "laxeren" (to laxate). Previously, a laxative was made from the plant, but due to its high toxicity, this is no longer done.
The plant can also be used to poison fish. The poison is in the roots; especially fresh small roots work well. The poison is then harmless to humans, so fish caught with it are edible.
Surely, in the coming time, a useful application will be found for this fascinating plant. For now, we mainly sell these seeds for you to get acquainted with them! Grow the plant in a pot, as it cannot tolerate frost, but you can overwinter it cool.

Names:
Latin: Jatropha curcas
Dutch: Purgeernoot
Also: Schijtnoot
English: Physic nut