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Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) was when 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 quick rate, is poisonous, and produces fuel suitable for diesel engines. Continue reading for more Jatropha tree details 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 places. The plant lives for up to 50 years and may grow almost 20 feet (6 m.) high. It has a deep, thick taproot that makes it versatile to bad, dry soil. The leaves are oval, lobed, and deciduous. Overall, the plant is not especially visually enticing, 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 reason for all the hullaballoo, due to the fact that they are high in burnable oil. A fascinating 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 versatile and durable the plant is even when presented to a brand-new area. Jatropha curcas cultivation can produce oil that is a good for current biofuels. Its effectiveness has been challenged, but it holds true the plant can produce seeds with an oil material of 37%. Unfortunately, it is still a part of the food vs. fuel debate, as it requires land that might enter into food production. Scientists are trying to develop a "very Jatropha" with bigger seeds and, therefore, bigger 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 originated in Central to South America, but it has been introduced around the globe and flourishes wild in places like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief among Jatropha utilizes is its possible as a tidy burning fuel to change fossil fuels. Plantation growing in certain locations has actually been tried, however total Jatropha curcas cultivation has been a dismal failure. This is due to the fact that the production mass of oil can not equate to the land use by cropping Jatropha.

Jatropha Plant Care and Growth

The plant is easy to grow from cuttings or seed. Cuttings lead to quicker maturity and quicker seed production. It prefers warm environments, but it can survive a light frost. The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the very best growth will be accomplished with supplemental watering occasionally. It doesn't have any major disease or pest issues in its natural regions. It may be pruned, but flowers and fruit form on terminal development, so it is best to wait until after flowering. No other Jatropha plant care is needed. This plant works 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 been gardening and composing for 15 years. A previous expert chef, she wants edible landscaping.