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Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) was when 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 toxic, and produces fuel suitable for diesel engines. Read on for more Jatropha tree information 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 areas. The plant lives for up to 50 years and might grow nearly 20 feet (6 m.) high. It has a deep, thick taproot that makes it versatile to poor, dry soil. The leaves are oval, lobed, and deciduous. Overall, the plant is not particularly aesthetically enticing, however it does get attractive green cymes of flowerets which turn into a tri-compartment fruit with large black seeds. These large black seeds are the reason for all the hullaballoo, because 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 shows how adaptable and hardy the plant is even when introduced to a new region. Jatropha curcas growing can produce oil that is a good replacement for current biofuels. Its effectiveness has actually 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 could go into food production. Scientists are attempting to establish a "very Jatropha" with bigger seeds and, therefore, larger oil yields.

Jatropha Curcas Cultivation

Jatropha usages are rather limited. Most parts of the plant are harmful to eat due to the latex sap, but it is utilized as a medical. It is useful in dealing with snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and apparently some cancers. The plant might have come from in Central to South America, but it has been presented worldwide and flourishes wild in locations like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief amongst Jatropha utilizes is its possible as a tidy burning fuel to replace nonrenewable fuel sources. Plantation cultivation in certain areas has actually been attempted, but general Jatropha curcas growing has been a disappointing failure. This is because 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 climates, however it can survive a light frost. The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the very best growth will be achieved with supplemental watering periodically. It does not have any major illness or bug problems in its natural areas. It may be pruned, but flowers and fruit form on terminal development, so it is best to wait up until after blooming. No other Jatropha plant care is essential. This plant is useful as a hedge or living fence, or just as a specimen.

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Bonnie Grant is a professional landscaper with a Certification in Urban Gardening. She has been gardening and writing for 15 years. A former expert chef, she has an enthusiasm for edible landscaping.