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jatropha curcas (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 quick rate, is harmful, and produces fuel suitable for diesel engines. 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 easy to grow in tropical to semi-tropical locations. The plant lives for as much as 50 years and may grow nearly 20 feet (6 m.) high. 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 particularly aesthetically enticing, but it does get attractive green cymes of flowerets which develop into a tri-compartment fruit with large black seeds. These big black seeds are the factor for all the hullaballoo, since they are high in burnable oil. A fascinating piece of Jatropha 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 introduced to a brand-new region. Jatropha curcas cultivation can produce oil that is a great replacement for existing biofuels. Its usefulness has been challenged, however it is true the plant can produce seeds with an oil material of 37%. Unfortunately, it is still a part of the food vs. fuel argument, as it needs land that might enter into food production. Scientists are trying to develop a "extremely Jatropha" with bigger seeds and, therefore, yields.

Jatropha Curcas Cultivation

Jatropha uses are rather restricted. Most parts of the plant are poisonous to consume due to the latex sap, however it is utilized as a medicinal. It works in dealing with snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and apparently some cancers. The plant may have come from in Central to South America, however it has actually been introduced around the world and flourishes wild in locations like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief amongst jatropha curcas uses is its prospective as a tidy burning fuel to change fossil fuels. Plantation growing in specific locations has actually been tried, however overall Jatropha curcas growing has actually been a depressing failure. This is because the production mass of oil can not equal the land use by cropping Jatropha.

Jatropha Plant Care and Growth

The plant is easy to grow from cuttings or seed. Cuttings result in much 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 very best growth will be accomplished with extra watering periodically. It doesn't have any significant disease or pest issues in its natural areas. It might be pruned, however flowers and fruit kind on terminal growth, so it is best to wait up until after blooming. No other jatropha curcas plant care is necessary. This plant works as a hedge or living fence, or simply 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 writing for 15 years. A previous expert chef, she has a passion for edible landscaping.