French physicnut

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• French physicnut
• Spanish physicnut
• St. Vincent physicnut

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Adenoropium multifidum
• Manihot multifida

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Malpighiales and the family Euphorbiaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is established within the genus Jatropha.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning several distinct regions across Africa. Within the Macaronesian islands, it can be found growing in Cape Verde. Its presence extends into West Tropical Africa, specifically within the territories of Gambia, Guinea, and Togo. Furthermore, the species reaches into West-Central Tropical Africa, where it is located in the Central African Republic. Together, these locations highlight the plant's wide range across the tropical and subtropical zones of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Jatropha multifida is characterized by its adaptation to a wide range of altitudinal gradients, allowing it to thrive across diverse topographical landscapes. It is typically found occupying an elevational range that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends up to a maximum altitude of 1500 m AMSL. This broad vertical distribution suggests a high degree of ecological plasticity, enabling the species to colonize various microclimates ranging from lowland tropical environments to higher-altitude montane zones. Within these zones, the plant's distribution is often influenced by local soil composition, moisture availability, and light exposure, facilitating its establishment in both disturbed sites and more stable natural habitats throughout its specified elevational belt.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Jatropha multifida is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Morphologically, it functions as a phanerophyte, possessing elevated stems that keep its reproductive organs above the ground level, though it can also be categorized under the nanophanerophyte life form depending on the specific environmental scale of its woody structures. The plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year, providing continuous photosynthetic activity and a stable structural presence in its habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Jatropha multifida is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically classified as a shrub. This plant is a self-supporting species, meaning it does not function as a liana or vine, and it is entirely terrestrial in its ecological habit, neither being aquatic nor serving as an epiphyte. As an independent organism, it does not exhibit parasitic behavior. In terms of physical dimensions, the plant exhibits significant variability in stature; its height typically ranges from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of approximately 6.10 m, with an average plant height of 2.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

6.096074128 m

Plant height mean:

2.5 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiological profile of Jatropha multifida is characterized by specific morphological dimensions and nutritional strategies. The plant's foliage displays a significant range in size, with leaf lengths typically averaging 13 cm, though they can vary from a minimum of 8 cm to a maximum of 18 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 1 cm and a maximum of 5 cm. Regarding its metabolic relationship with soil nutrients, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the substrate rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing processes.

Leaf length max:

18 cm

Leaf length mean:

13 cm

Leaf length min:

8 cm

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Jatropha multifida is characterized by the development of distinct fruit structures that follow the pollination of its flowers. The plant produces fleshy, capsule-like fruits that serve as the primary vehicle for seed dispersal. Based on morphological data, the fruit exhibits a highly consistent size profile, with a measured fruit length that remains uniform across different specimens. Specifically, the fruit length maintains a constant value where the minimum, mean, and maximum measurements are all recorded at 3 cm. This uniformity in fruit length suggests a stable reproductive pattern within the species, ensuring that the seeds are housed in standardized protective structures as they mature and prepare for dispersal.

Fruit length max:

3 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Jatropha multifida has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem, root.

Stem

1. Journal of natural medicines
2. Natural product research

Root

1. Fitoterapia

Chemicals

Jatropha multifida has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 2-Hydroxybenzoic acid, CHLOROFORM, Coumarins, ETHYL ACETATE, Flavonoids.

2-Hydroxybenzoic acid

1. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

CHLOROFORM

1. Fitoterapia

Coumarins

1. Journal of natural medicines

ETHYL ACETATE

1. Fitoterapia

Flavonoids

1. F1000Research

HEXANE

1. Fitoterapia

Proanthocyanidin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Saponins

1. F1000Research

Tannins

1. F1000Research

methanol

1. Fitoterapia

Activities

Jatropha multifida has 2 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Antimicrobial

1. F1000Research
2. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Jatropha multifida has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Staphylococcus aureus, antimalarial, melanogenesis, neurodegenerative disease, schistosomiasis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations