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Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) was when promoted as the new wunderkind plant for biofuel. What is a Jatropha curcas tree? The tree or bush grows in any type of soil at a quick rate, is poisonous, and produces fuel suitable for diesel motor. Read on for more Jatropha tree details 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 simple to grow in tropical to semi-tropical places. The plant lives for up to 50 years and might grow nearly 20 feet (6 m.) high. 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 particularly visually enticing, however it does get appealing green cymes of flowerets which become a tri-compartment fruit with large black seeds. These big black seeds are the reason for all the hullaballoo, since they are high in burnable oil. An intriguing 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 new region. Jatropha curcas growing can produce oil that is a great alternative to current biofuels. Its usefulness has been challenged, however it is true the plant can produce seeds with an oil content of 37%. Unfortunately, it is still a part of the food vs. fuel argument, as it needs land that could go into food production. Scientists are trying to develop a "incredibly Jatropha" with larger seeds and, for that reason, larger oil yields.

Jatropha Curcas Cultivation

Jatropha usages are rather limited. Most parts of the plant are poisonous to eat due to the latex sap, but it is used as a medicinal. It works in dealing with snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and obviously some cancers. The plant might have come from 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 possible as a clean burning fuel to replace fossil fuels. Plantation growing in particular areas has actually been tried, however overall Jatropha curcas growing has been a depressing failure. This is because the production mass of oil can not equate to the land use by cropping Jatropha.

Jatropha Plant Care and Growth

The plant is simple to grow from cuttings or seed. Cuttings lead to much faster maturity and quicker seed production. It chooses warm climates, but it can make it through a . The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the best development will be attained with supplemental watering sometimes. It doesn't have any major illness or insect issues in its natural regions. It might be pruned, but flowers and fruit type on terminal growth, so it is best to wait till after flowering. 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 been gardening and writing for 15 years. A previous expert chef, she wants edible landscaping.