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Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) was once 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 fast rate, is poisonous, and produces fuel fit for diesel motor. Keep reading for more Jatropha tree info 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 locations. The plant lives for as much as 50 years and may grow almost 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 aesthetically appealing, but it does get appealing 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, due to the fact that they are high in burnable oil. An interesting piece of jatropha curcas tree info is that it is noted 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 cultivation can produce oil that is a great replacement for existing biofuels. Its usefulness has been challenged, but it is real 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 enter into food production. Scientists are trying to develop a "extremely Jatropha" with bigger seeds and, therefore, larger 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 utilized as a medicinal. It is useful in dealing with snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and obviously some cancers. The plant may have come from Central to South America, however it has actually been introduced around the globe and flourishes wild in places like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief amongst Jatropha uses is its prospective as a tidy burning fuel to replace fossil fuels. Plantation growing in particular locations has actually been attempted, however overall Jatropha curcas growing has actually been a dismal failure. This is since the production mass of oil can not equate to the land usage 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 prefers warm climates, but it can endure a light frost. The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the very best growth will be attained with additional watering sometimes. It does not have any major illness or insect issues in its natural areas. It may be pruned, however flowers and fruit kind on terminal growth, so it is best to wait till after blooming. No other Jatropha plant care is required. This plant is beneficial as a hedge or living fence, or just as a decorative 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 expert chef, she wants edible landscaping.