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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 kind of soil at a fast rate, is toxic, and produces fuel fit for diesel engines. Continue reading for more Jatropha tree information 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 up to 50 years and may grow almost 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 appealing green cymes of flowerets which turn into a tri-compartment fruit with large black seeds. These big black seeds are the reason for all the hullaballoo, because they are high in burnable oil. A fascinating piece of jatropha curcas tree details is that it is noted 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 brand-new region. Jatropha curcas growing can produce oil that is a great alternative to existing biofuels. Its usefulness has actually been challenged, but it holds true the plant can produce seeds with an oil material of 37%. Unfortunately, it is still a part of the food vs. fuel debate, as it needs land that might go into food production. Scientists are attempting to develop a "very Jatropha" with bigger seeds and, for that reason, 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 used as a medicinal. It works in dealing with snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and obviously some cancers. The plant may have originated in Central to South America, however it has actually been presented worldwide and flourishes wild in places like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief amongst Jatropha utilizes is its possible as a tidy burning fuel to replace fossil fuels. Plantation growing in particular areas has actually been tried, but general Jatropha curcas growing has been a depressing failure. This is since the production mass of oil can not equal the land usage by cropping Jatropha.

Jatropha Plant Care and Growth

The plant is easy to grow from cuttings or seed. Cuttings lead to much faster maturity and quicker seed production. It prefers warm environments, however it can make it through a light frost. The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the best growth will be accomplished with additional watering sometimes. It doesn't have any significant disease or insect problems in its natural regions. It may be pruned, but flowers and fruit type on terminal growth, so it is best to wait until after blooming. No other jatropha curcas plant care is needed. 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.