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Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) was once 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 fast rate, is hazardous, 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 seasonal shrub or tree. It is drought-resistant and simple to grow in tropical to semi-tropical locations. The plant lives for as much as 50 years and might grow almost 20 feet (6 m.) tall. It has a deep, thick taproot that makes it adaptable to bad, dry soil. The leaves are oval, lobed, and deciduous. Overall, the plant is not especially visually appealing, but it does get attractive green cymes of flowerets which turn into a tri-compartment fruit with big black seeds. These big black seeds are the factor for all the hullaballoo, because they are high in burnable oil. An intriguing piece of Jatropha tree details 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 introduced to a new area. Jatropha curcas growing can produce oil that is a great alternative for current 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 argument, as it needs land that could enter into food production. Scientists are trying to develop a "incredibly Jatropha" with larger seeds and, for that reason, larger oil yields.

Jatropha Curcas Cultivation

Jatropha usages are rather restricted. Most parts of the plant are harmful to consume due to the latex sap, however it is used as a medicinal. It works 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 worldwide and flourishes wild in places like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief among jatropha curcas uses is its prospective as a clean burning fuel to replace nonrenewable fuel sources. Plantation growing in specific areas has been attempted, but total Jatropha curcas growing has been a disappointing failure. This is due to the fact that the production mass of oil can not equate to the land use by cropping jatropha curcas.

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 climates, however it can make it through a light frost. The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the very best development will be attained with supplemental watering occasionally. It doesn't have any major disease or pest problems in its natural regions. It might be pruned, but flowers and fruit type on terminal development, so it is best to wait up until after blooming. No other jatropha curcas plant care is necessary. This plant works as a hedge or living fence, or simply 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 previous expert chef, she has an enthusiasm for .