an ornamental, tropical American tree, Jatropha curcas, of the spurge family, having ivylike leaves, small, yellow or greenish-yellow flowers, and olive-shaped fruit yielding a purgative, poisonous oil.
Main Entry: physic nut Function: noun : the seed of a small tropical American tree of the genus Jatropha (J. curcas) containing a strongly purgative oil
