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Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) was once promoted 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 rapid rate, is toxic, and produces fuel fit for diesel motor. 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 places. The plant lives for up to 50 years and might grow almost 20 feet (6 m.) tall. It has a deep, thick taproot that makes it adaptable to poor, dry soil. The leaves are oval, lobed, and deciduous. Overall, the plant is not especially visually enticing, but it does get attractive green cymes of flowerets which develop into a tri-compartment fruit with big black seeds. These big black seeds are the factor for all the hullaballoo, because they are high in burnable oil. An interesting piece of Jatropha tree information is that it is listed 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 good replacement for current biofuels. Its usefulness has been challenged, however 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 dispute, as it requires land that could enter into food production. Scientists are trying to develop a "super Jatropha" with bigger seeds and, for that reason, larger oil yields.

Jatropha Curcas Cultivation

Jatropha uses are rather limited. Most parts of the plant are poisonous to consume due to the latex sap, but it is used as a medical. It works in dealing with snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and apparently some cancers. The plant might have come from Central to South America, however it has actually been presented all over the world and flourishes wild in places like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief among Jatropha utilizes is its prospective as a clean burning fuel to change fossil fuels. Plantation cultivation in specific locations has been attempted, but overall Jatropha curcas growing has been a dismal failure. This is because the production mass of oil can not equate to the land usage by cropping Jatropha.

Jatropha Plant Care and Growth

The plant is easy to grow from cuttings or seed. Cuttings lead to faster maturity and quicker seed production. It chooses warm environments, however it can endure a light frost. The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the very best development will be achieved with additional watering occasionally. It doesn't have any major disease or bug concerns in its natural areas. It may be pruned, however flowers and fruit form on terminal development, so it is best to wait up until after . No other Jatropha plant care is required. This plant is useful 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 composing for 15 years. A former expert chef, she has a passion for edible landscaping.