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Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) was when touted as the new wunderkind plant for biofuel. What is a tree? The tree or bush grows in any type of soil at a rapid rate, is poisonous, and produces fuel suitable for diesel motor. Read on for more jatropha curcas 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 as much as 50 years and may grow almost 20 feet (6 m.) high. It has a deep, thick taproot that makes it adaptable to bad, dry soil. The leaves are oval, lobed, and deciduous. Overall, the plant is not especially aesthetically appealing, however it does get attractive green cymes of flowerets which become a tri-compartment fruit with large black seeds. These large black seeds are the factor for all the hullaballoo, due to the fact that they are high in burnable oil. A fascinating piece of jatropha curcas tree info is that it is noted as a weed in Brazil, Fiji, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Salvador. This proves how adaptable and durable the plant is even when introduced to a new region. Jatropha curcas cultivation can produce oil that is a good replacement for current biofuels. Its usefulness has been challenged, however it holds true 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 needs land that could enter into food production. Scientists are attempting to develop a "very jatropha curcas" with bigger seeds and, therefore, larger oil yields.

Jatropha Curcas Cultivation

Jatropha uses are rather limited. Most parts of the plant are toxic to eat due to the latex sap, but it is used as a medical. It works in treating snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and obviously some cancers. The plant may have stemmed in Central to South America, but it has actually been introduced all over the world and flourishes wild in places like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief among Jatropha utilizes is its potential as a tidy burning fuel to replace fossil fuels. Plantation cultivation in certain locations has actually been attempted, however general Jatropha curcas growing has actually been a depressing failure. This is due to the fact that 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 lead to much 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 finest growth will be accomplished with supplemental watering periodically. It does not have any major disease or bug concerns in its natural regions. It may be pruned, however flowers and fruit type on terminal development, 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 an expert landscaper with an Accreditation in Urban Gardening. She has been gardening and writing for 15 years. A former professional chef, she has an enthusiasm for edible landscaping.