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Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) was once touted as the brand-new wunderkind plant for biofuel. What is a Jatropha curcas tree? The tree or bush grows in any kind of soil at a quick rate, is hazardous, and produces fuel fit for diesel engines. Continue reading for more jatropha curcas tree info and see how you rate this plant.

What is a Jatropha Curcas Tree?

Jatropha is a seasonal shrub or tree. It is drought-resistant and simple to grow in tropical to semi-tropical places. The plant lives for as much as 50 years and might grow nearly 20 feet (6 m.) tall. It has a deep, thick taproot which makes it adaptable to bad, dry soil. The leaves are oval, lobed, and deciduous. Overall, the plant is not especially visually appealing, but it does get appealing green cymes of flowerets which develop into a tri-compartment fruit with big black seeds. These large black seeds are the reason for all the hullaballoo, due to the fact that they are high in burnable oil. An interesting piece of Jatropha tree info is that it is listed as a weed in Brazil, Fiji, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Salvador. This shows how versatile and sturdy the plant is even when presented to a brand-new area. Jatropha curcas growing can produce oil that is an excellent alternative for existing biofuels. Its usefulness has been challenged, but it holds true the plant can produce seeds with an oil content of 37%. Unfortunately, it is still a part of the food vs. fuel debate, as it needs land that might go into food production. Scientists are attempting to establish a "extremely Jatropha" with bigger seeds and, therefore, bigger oil yields.

Jatropha Curcas Cultivation

Jatropha uses are rather restricted. Most parts of the plant are harmful to eat due to the latex sap, however it is used as a medicinal. It works in dealing with snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and obviously some cancers. The plant may have originated in Central to South America, but it has actually been presented worldwide and flourishes wild in places like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief amongst Jatropha uses is its prospective as a clean burning fuel to replace fossil fuels. Plantation cultivation in particular areas has been tried, but general Jatropha curcas growing has actually been a miserable failure. This is because the production mass of oil can not equate to the land usage by cropping Jatropha.

jatropha curcas Plant Care and Growth

The plant is easy to grow from cuttings or seed. Cuttings lead to faster maturity and quicker seed production. It prefers warm environments, but it can make it through a light frost. The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the best growth will be accomplished with extra watering occasionally. It does not have any major disease or insect issues in its natural regions. It might be pruned, however flowers and fruit form on terminal growth, so it is best to wait until after flowering. No other Jatropha plant care is essential. This plant works as a hedge or living fence, or just as an ornamental stand-alone specimen.

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Bonnie Grant is a professional landscaper with a Certification in Urban Gardening. She has been gardening and composing for 15 years. A previous expert chef, she wants edible landscaping.