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jatropha curcas (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 type of soil at a rapid rate, is poisonous, and produces fuel fit for diesel engines. Keep reading for more Jatropha tree details 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 easy to grow in tropical to semi-tropical areas. 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 particularly aesthetically attractive, however it does get attractive green cymes of flowerets which develop into a tri-compartment fruit with large black seeds. These large black seeds are the reason for all the hullaballoo, due to the fact that they are high in burnable oil. An interesting 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 proves how versatile and hardy the plant is even when presented to a brand-new area. Jatropha curcas cultivation can produce oil that is an excellent substitute for present biofuels. Its effectiveness has actually been challenged, however it is true the plant can produce seeds with an oil content 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 attempting to establish a "extremely Jatropha" with larger seeds and, therefore, bigger oil yields.

Jatropha Curcas Cultivation

Jatropha uses are rather limited. Most parts of the plant are hazardous 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 been presented around the globe and flourishes wild in places like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief among Jatropha uses is its potential as a tidy burning fuel to change fossil fuels. Plantation cultivation in specific locations has been tried, however total Jatropha curcas growing has been a depressing failure. This is since the production mass 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 much faster maturity and quicker seed production. It chooses warm environments, however it can survive a light frost. The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the very best development will be achieved with extra watering periodically. It doesn't have any major disease or insect concerns in its natural regions. It may be pruned, but flowers and fruit kind on terminal development, so it is best to wait until after flowering. 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 actually been gardening and composing for 15 years. A former professional chef, she wants edible landscaping.