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65. Physic Nut 



Jatropha Curcas 



POISON 



The raw seeds or "nuts" of this plant are poisonous, or at 

 least violently purgative. Deaths have occurred from eating 

 them. After being thoroughly roasted, they are sweet and 

 good to eat; however it is best not to eat them under any cir- 

 cumstances. The tree is commonly found in lowlands of the 

 entire Caribbean region where it is often planted for hedges or 

 live fence posts. The bush or small tree has small greenish-yellow 

 flowers. The seed pod contains two or three large oily seeds. 

 Other names for the physic nut are pinon, tempate, coquillo and 

 coquito in Central America, and tdrtago in Puerto Rico. 



