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Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) was as soon as 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 quick rate, is poisonous, and produces fuel suitable for diesel motor. 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.) 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 particularly visually appealing, however it does get appealing green cymes of flowerets which turn into a tri-compartment fruit with big black seeds. These big black seeds are the factor for all the hullaballoo, due to the fact that they are high in burnable oil. An intriguing piece of Jatropha tree info is that it is noted as a weed in Brazil, Fiji, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Salvador. This shows how adaptable and durable the plant is even when introduced to a new region. Jatropha curcas growing can produce oil that is an excellent replacement for existing biofuels. Its effectiveness has been challenged, but 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 requires land that could go into food production. Scientists are attempting to develop a "super Jatropha" with larger seeds and, therefore, larger oil yields.

Jatropha Curcas Cultivation

Jatropha uses are rather limited. Most parts of the plant are poisonous to eat due to the latex sap, but it is used as a medicinal. It is beneficial in treating snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and obviously some cancers. The plant may have come from Central to South America, but it has actually been presented all over the world and flourishes wild in places like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief amongst Jatropha utilizes is its prospective as a tidy burning fuel to change fossil fuels. Plantation growing in particular areas has been attempted, but general Jatropha curcas growing has actually been a miserable failure. This is because the of oil can not equate to the land usage by cropping Jatropha.

Jatropha Plant Care and Growth

The plant is simple to grow from cuttings or seed. Cuttings lead to faster maturity and quicker seed production. It prefers warm environments, but it can make it through a light frost. The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the very best growth will be achieved with additional watering periodically. It does not have any major disease or insect problems in its natural areas. It may be pruned, but flowers and fruit kind on terminal development, so it is best to wait till after flowering. No other Jatropha plant care is needed. This plant is useful as a hedge or living fence, or simply 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 composing for 15 years. A previous expert chef, she has an enthusiasm for edible landscaping.