''Jatropha costaricensis'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the euphorb family known by the common name Costa Rican jatropha. It is native to

Costa Rica Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America. It borders Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, as well as Maritime bo ...

Guatemala Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala, is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico, to the northeast by Belize, to the east by Honduras, and to the southeast by El Salvador. It is hydrologically b ...

and

Nicaragua Nicaragua, officially the Republic of Nicaragua, is the geographically largest Sovereign state, country in Central America, comprising . With a population of 7,142,529 as of 2024, it is the third-most populous country in Central America aft ...

. First discovered in 1974 and described to science in 1978,Webster, G. L. and L. J. Poveda. (1978)
A phytogeographically significant new species of ''Jatropha'' (Euphorbiaceae) from Costa Rica.
''Brittonia'' 30:2 265. this species was added to the

endangered species An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching, inv ...

list of the United States in 1984 because it was in danger of

extinction Extinction is the termination of an organism by the death of its Endling, last member. A taxon may become Functional extinction, functionally extinct before the death of its last member if it loses the capacity to Reproduction, reproduce and ...

and was not protected under any Costa Rican or international laws. At that time there was only one population known, located near

Playas del Coco Playas del Coco is one of the oldest beach communities in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica. This region is also one of the fastest-growing tourism in Costa Rica, tourism areas in Costa Rica. A popular destination for both local Costa Ricans a ...

Guanacaste Province Guanacaste () is a Provinces of Costa Rica, province of Costa Rica located in the northwestern region of the country, along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. It is bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Alajuela Province to the east, and Puntarenas Pro ...

, Costa Rica.USFWS
Determination of endangered status for ''Jatropha costaricensis'' (Costa Rican Jatropha).
''Federal Register'' July 27, 1984.

References

costaricensis Flora of Costa Rica Flora of Guatemala Flora of Nicaragua Plants described in 1978 {{Euphorbiaceae-stub