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Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) was once touted 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 fast rate, is toxic, and produces fuel suitable for diesel engines. Continue 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 approximately 50 years and may grow nearly 20 feet (6 m.) tall. It has a deep, thick taproot which makes it adaptable to bad, dry soil. The leaves are oval, lobed, and deciduous. Overall, the plant is not especially aesthetically attractive, but it does get attractive green cymes of flowerets which turn into a tri-compartment fruit with big 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 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 durable the plant is even when presented to a brand-new region. Jatropha curcas can produce oil that is a good alternative for current biofuels. Its usefulness has actually been challenged, but it is real 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 requires land that might go into food production. Scientists are attempting to establish a "extremely Jatropha" with bigger seeds and, therefore, larger oil yields.

Jatropha Curcas Cultivation

Jatropha uses are rather restricted. Most parts of the plant are toxic to consume due to the latex sap, but it is used as a medicinal. It is useful in treating snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and apparently some cancers. The plant may have come from Central to South America, however it has been introduced worldwide and flourishes wild in places like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief among Jatropha uses is its prospective as a tidy burning fuel to replace fossil fuels. Plantation cultivation in particular locations has been attempted, however general Jatropha curcas growing has actually been a dismal failure. This is due to the fact that 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 result in much faster maturity and quicker seed production. It chooses warm climates, but it can endure a light frost. The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the best growth will be accomplished with extra watering sometimes. It doesn't have any major illness or pest concerns in its natural regions. It may be pruned, but flowers and fruit kind on terminal growth, so it is best to wait until after blooming. No other Jatropha plant care is needed. This plant works as a hedge or living fence, or simply as an ornamental 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 composing for 15 years. A previous expert chef, she wants edible landscaping.