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jatropha curcas (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 poisonous, 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 easy to grow in tropical to semi-tropical locations. The plant lives for approximately 50 years and may grow almost 20 feet (6 m.) high. It has a deep, thick taproot which makes it versatile to bad, dry soil. The leaves are oval, lobed, and deciduous. Overall, the plant is not particularly visually enticing, however it does get attractive green cymes of flowerets which develop into a tri-compartment fruit with big black seeds. These large black seeds are the factor for all the hullaballoo, due to the fact that they are high in burnable oil. An intriguing piece of Jatropha tree information is that it is noted 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 area. Jatropha curcas cultivation can produce oil that is an excellent replacement for biofuels. Its effectiveness 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 argument, as it requires land that could enter into food production. Scientists are trying to establish a "super jatropha curcas" with bigger seeds and, for that reason, bigger oil yields.

Jatropha Curcas Cultivation

Jatropha usages are rather restricted. Most parts of the plant are harmful to eat due to the latex sap, but it is used as a medicinal. It is helpful in treating snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and obviously some cancers. The plant may have stemmed in Central to South America, but it has actually been presented all over the world and flourishes wild in locations like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief among Jatropha uses is its prospective as a tidy burning fuel to replace fossil fuels. Plantation cultivation in particular areas has been tried, but overall Jatropha curcas growing has 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 result in faster maturity and quicker seed production. It prefers warm environments, however it can survive a light frost. The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the best growth will be achieved with additional watering periodically. It doesn't have any major disease or bug issues in its natural regions. It may be pruned, but flowers and fruit form on terminal growth, so it is best to wait until after flowering. No other Jatropha plant care is required. This plant is useful 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 an Accreditation in Urban Gardening. She has actually been gardening and composing for 15 years. A previous professional chef, she wants edible landscaping.