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Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) was as soon as promoted 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 quick rate, is poisonous, and produces fuel suitable for diesel motor. Continue reading for more jatropha curcas tree info and see how you rate this plant.

What is a Jatropha Curcas Tree?

Jatropha is a seasonal shrub or tree. It is drought-resistant and easy to grow in tropical to places. The plant lives for as much as 50 years and might 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 particularly aesthetically enticing, however it does get appealing green cymes of flowerets which become a tri-compartment fruit with big black seeds. These big black seeds are the reason for all the hullaballoo, because they are high in burnable oil. An intriguing 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 sturdy the plant is even when presented to a new area. Jatropha curcas growing can produce oil that is an excellent replacement for existing biofuels. Its usefulness has been challenged, but 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 dispute, as it needs land that could enter into food production. Scientists are attempting to establish a "very Jatropha" with bigger seeds and, for that reason, bigger oil yields.

Jatropha Curcas Cultivation

Jatropha usages are rather limited. Most parts of the plant are poisonous to eat due to the latex sap, but it is utilized as a medicinal. It works in treating snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and obviously some cancers. The plant may have come from in Central to South America, but it has been presented around the world and flourishes wild in places like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief amongst Jatropha uses is its possible as a tidy burning fuel to change nonrenewable fuel sources. Plantation growing in particular locations has been tried, but overall Jatropha curcas cultivation has actually been a miserable failure. This is since the production mass of oil can not equal the land use 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 endure a light frost. The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the very best growth will be achieved with supplemental watering sometimes. It doesn't have any significant disease or bug issues in its natural regions. It might be pruned, but flowers and fruit type on terminal growth, so it is best to wait up until after blooming. No other Jatropha plant care is necessary. This plant is beneficial 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 writing for 15 years. A former professional chef, she wants edible landscaping.