Jatropha curcas is a perennial shrub or small tree that reaches up to 6 metres high. The heart-shaped, hairless leaves are usually 5-lobed. Flowers are small, hairy and greenish yellow.  The egg-shaped fruit capsules are initially green, turning black as they ripen. At maturity, the fruit splits into three parts, releasing three large black seed nuts, each about 20mm long and 10mm in diameter.