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Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) was once 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 motor. Continue reading for more Jatropha tree info and see how you rate this plant.

What is a Jatropha Curcas Tree?

jatropha curcas is a perennial shrub or tree. It is drought-resistant and simple to grow in tropical to semi-tropical areas. The plant lives for up to 50 years and may grow almost 20 feet (6 m.) tall. 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 large black seeds are the reason for all the hullaballoo, because they are high in burnable oil. A fascinating piece of jatropha curcas tree information is that it is listed as a weed in Brazil, Fiji, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Salvador. This shows how versatile and hardy the plant is even when presented to a new area. Jatropha curcas growing can produce oil that is a great alternative to existing biofuels. Its effectiveness has actually 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 argument, as it needs land that might enter into food production. Scientists are trying to develop a "super jatropha curcas" with bigger seeds and, for that reason, bigger oil yields.

Jatropha Curcas Cultivation

Jatropha uses are rather restricted. Most parts of the plant are toxic to eat due to the latex sap, however it is used as a medicinal. It is helpful 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 around the globe and flourishes wild in locations like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief amongst Jatropha uses is its possible as a tidy burning fuel to replace nonrenewable fuel sources. Plantation cultivation in certain areas has actually been attempted, but overall Jatropha curcas cultivation has actually been a miserable failure. This is because the production mass of oil can not equal the land usage 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 prefers warm climates, but it can make it through a light frost. The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the very best growth will be attained with additional watering periodically. It doesn't have any significant illness or pest issues in its natural regions. It might be pruned, however flowers and fruit form on terminal growth, so it is best to wait till after blooming. No other Jatropha plant care is required. This plant is useful as a hedge or living fence, or just 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 former professional chef, she has a passion for edible landscaping.