jatropha or physic nuts, is a bushy plant that can reach eight feet in height and has the ability to survive in arid environments and thus does not compete with food crops.
Originally from South America, it was introduced in other tropical and subtropical countries by Western explorers.
The word jatropha become from two Greek words: iatros meaning doctor and trophy which means food.
Jatropha is known for its medicinal virtues:
:
It is used as laxative, antiseptic, skin diseases and against leprosy and it produces a substance called Curcin with anti-tumor properties, fungicides and insecticides.
Jatropha was grown extensively in Cape Verde especially for its oil extracted from seeds witch content between 25% and 35% of oil. The oil was exported to Europe from African countries for industrial purposes.
Jatropha belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. There are several species, but most are grown mainly 
jatropha curcas L et jatropha mahafalensis.
Jatropha is present in all tropical and subtropical countries and grow between zero and 1,500 meters.
Jatropha is propagated by seed or by cuttings. To grow, jatropha requires 250-600 mm of annual rainfall and resents rainfall above 2000 mm.
Growing from seed gives variable results, so the intermediate step of selection, or vegetative propagation is recommended.
To increase the productivity of jatropha, it is recommended to make their pollarding when the plants are six weeks; this process stimulates branching early seedlings.
The plants obtained from seeds become adult at twelve months, while those obtained from cuttings are mature after nine months.
The full production is reached, however, only after three to four years depending on soil conditions and climate.
Jatropha lives more than fifty years.
The density varies between 1500 and 2500 plants per hectare of jatropha.
The cultivation of jatropha requires advance preparation when the soil surface is heavily degraded.
Traditionally, we used the root extracts of jatropha to treat leprosy and oil extracted from seeds as a purgative.
Usually, jatropha is used to build hedge, stop desertification and erosion, and restore degraded soils.
The jatropha seed oil is used to make soap called de Marseille, it is also used in making varnish.
Jatropha oil contains active ingredients that fight against certain insects and mollusks.
This oil is processed into high quality biodiesel because of his physicochemical qualities, by an industrial process. The biodiesel is used in vehicles and generators. It is a substitute of diesel (conventional diesel).
