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Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) was as soon as touted 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 suitable 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 perennial shrub or tree. It is drought-resistant and simple to grow in tropical to semi-tropical areas. The plant lives for approximately 50 years and may grow nearly 20 feet (6 m.) high. It has a deep, thick taproot that makes it versatile to poor, dry soil. The leaves are oval, lobed, and deciduous. Overall, the plant is not especially aesthetically appealing, 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, because they are high in burnable oil. A fascinating piece of jatropha curcas 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 durable the plant is even when presented to a brand-new region. Jatropha curcas cultivation can produce oil that is an excellent alternative to present biofuels. Its effectiveness has been challenged, but it holds true the plant can produce seeds with an oil of 37%. Unfortunately, it is still a part of the food vs. fuel debate, as it needs land that could enter into food production. Scientists are attempting to establish a "super jatropha curcas" with larger seeds and, therefore, bigger oil yields.

Jatropha Curcas Cultivation

Jatropha uses are rather restricted. Most parts of the plant are hazardous to consume due to the latex sap, however it is used as a medicinal. It works in treating snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and apparently some cancers. The plant may have come from in Central to South America, but it has actually been presented around the world and flourishes wild in locations like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief among jatropha curcas utilizes is its potential as a tidy burning fuel to replace nonrenewable fuel sources. Plantation cultivation in specific locations has been tried, however overall Jatropha curcas growing has actually been a depressing failure. This is because the production mass of oil can not equate to the land usage by cropping jatropha curcas.

Jatropha Plant Care and Growth

The plant is easy to grow from cuttings or seed. Cuttings result in faster maturity and quicker seed production. It chooses warm climates, but it can endure a light frost. The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the very best development will be attained with supplemental watering occasionally. It doesn't have any significant disease or pest problems in its natural regions. It might be pruned, but flowers and fruit form on terminal growth, so it is best to wait until after blooming. No other Jatropha plant care is required. This plant works as a hedge or living fence, or just as a decorative stand-alone specimen.

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Bonnie Grant is an expert landscaper with an Accreditation in Urban Gardening. She has been gardening and writing for 15 years. A previous expert chef, she wants edible landscaping.