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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 type of soil at a fast rate, is poisonous, and produces fuel fit for diesel motor. Read on for more Jatropha and see how you rate this plant.

What is a Jatropha Curcas Tree?

Jatropha is a perennial shrub or tree. It is drought-resistant and easy to grow in tropical to semi-tropical areas. The plant lives for approximately 50 years and may grow nearly 20 feet (6 m.) tall. It has a deep, thick taproot that makes it adaptable to poor, dry soil. The leaves are oval, lobed, and deciduous. Overall, the plant is not particularly aesthetically appealing, however it does get appealing green cymes of flowerets which become a tri-compartment fruit with big black seeds. These large black seeds are the reason for all the hullaballoo, because they are high in burnable oil. An intriguing piece of Jatropha tree information is that it is listed as a weed in Brazil, Fiji, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Salvador. This shows how versatile and hardy the plant is even when presented to a brand-new area. Jatropha curcas growing can produce oil that is an excellent replacement for present biofuels. Its usefulness has been challenged, however 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 could go into food production. Scientists are trying to establish a "incredibly jatropha curcas" with bigger seeds and, therefore, larger oil yields.

Jatropha Curcas Cultivation

Jatropha uses are rather limited. Most parts of the plant are hazardous to consume due to the latex sap, but it is used as a medical. It works in treating snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and obviously some cancers. The plant might have come from 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 prospective as a tidy burning fuel to change nonrenewable fuel sources. Plantation growing in specific areas has actually been attempted, but overall Jatropha curcas cultivation has actually been a dismal failure. This is due to the fact that the production mass of oil can not equal the land use by cropping Jatropha.

Jatropha Plant Care and Growth

The plant is simple to grow from cuttings or seed. Cuttings result in quicker maturity and quicker seed production. It chooses warm environments, but it can make it through a light frost. The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the very best growth will be accomplished with additional watering occasionally. It doesn't have any major disease or pest concerns in its natural regions. It might be pruned, however flowers and fruit form on terminal growth, so it is best to wait up until after flowering. No other Jatropha plant care is needed. This plant works as a hedge or living fence, or simply 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 writing for 15 years. A previous expert chef, she has an enthusiasm for edible landscaping.