- The Jatropha genus includes a wide variety of woody plants, perennials and succulents. Most Jatropha plants have milky sap and similarly shaped flowers. They usually produce both female and male blossoms on the same plant. Jatropha leaves and blossoms vary in size and color depending upon the species.
- Several common types of Jatropha include Jatropha curcas, a shrubby tree native to the North American continent; Jatropha integerrima or peregrina, a small tree or evergreen shrub that produces bright-red blossoms; and Jatropha multifida, a small evergreen tree or shrub native to Latin America, which produces clusters of flat-topped, coral-colored flowers.
- Growers cultivate some varieties of Jatropha such as peregrina for ornamental purposes. Other varieties such as Jatropha curcas produce edible leaves and oily seeds used for cooking and lighting. The British petroleum corporation BP experimented with growing Jatropha as a source of biofuel, but abandoned the venture in 2009 citing disappointing results.