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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 rapid rate, is toxic, and produces fuel fit for diesel engines. Read on for more Jatropha 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 locations. The plant lives for up to 50 years and might grow nearly 20 feet (6 m.) tall. It has a deep, thick taproot that makes it versatile to bad, dry soil. The leaves are oval, lobed, and deciduous. Overall, the plant is not particularly visually appealing, however it does get attractive green cymes of flowerets which develop into a tri-compartment fruit with large black seeds. These large black seeds are the reason for all the hullaballoo, because they are high in burnable oil. A fascinating piece of Jatropha tree details is that it is listed as a weed in Brazil, Fiji, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Salvador. This shows how adaptable and hardy the plant is even when introduced to a new region. Jatropha curcas cultivation can produce oil that is a good alternative to current biofuels. Its usefulness has been challenged, however it the plant can produce seeds with an oil material of 37%. Unfortunately, it is still a part of the food vs. fuel dispute, as it needs land that might enter into food production. Scientists are trying to develop a "extremely Jatropha" with larger seeds and, therefore, larger oil yields.

Jatropha Curcas Cultivation

Jatropha usages are rather limited. Most parts of the plant are toxic to consume due to the latex sap, but it is utilized as a medical. It is beneficial in treating snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and obviously some cancers. The plant may have originated in Central to South America, however it has been presented worldwide and flourishes wild in locations like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief amongst Jatropha utilizes is its possible as a tidy burning fuel to replace fossil fuels. Plantation cultivation in specific locations has been tried, but general Jatropha curcas growing has actually been a depressing failure. This is since the production mass of oil can not equate to the land usage by cropping jatropha curcas.

jatropha curcas Plant Care and Growth

The plant is simple to grow from cuttings or seed. Cuttings result in much faster maturity and quicker seed production. It prefers warm environments, but it can survive a light frost. The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the very best development will be achieved with additional watering periodically. It does not have any significant disease or pest problems in its natural regions. It may be pruned, however flowers and fruit type on terminal growth, so it is best to wait until after blooming. No other Jatropha plant care is required. 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 actually been gardening and composing for 15 years. A former professional chef, she wants edible landscaping.