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Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) was once promoted 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 quick rate, is toxic, and produces fuel fit for diesel engines. Continue reading 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 easy to grow in tropical to semi-tropical areas. The plant lives for as much as 50 years and may grow almost 20 feet (6 m.) tall. It has a deep, thick taproot which makes it adaptable to poor, dry soil. The leaves are oval, lobed, and deciduous. Overall, the plant is not especially visually enticing, but it does get appealing green cymes of flowerets which turn into a tri-compartment fruit with large black seeds. These large black seeds are the factor for all the hullaballoo, because they are high in burnable oil. An intriguing piece of Jatropha tree is that it is noted 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 an excellent alternative to present biofuels. Its effectiveness has 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 dispute, as it requires land that might go into food production. Scientists are trying to establish a "extremely Jatropha" with larger seeds and, for that reason, bigger oil yields.

Jatropha Curcas Cultivation

Jatropha uses are rather limited. Most parts of the plant are harmful to eat due to the latex sap, however it is used as a medicinal. It is helpful in dealing with snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and obviously some cancers. The plant might have come from Central to South America, but it has actually been introduced around the world and flourishes wild in locations like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief amongst Jatropha utilizes is its potential as a clean burning fuel to replace fossil fuels. Plantation growing in certain locations has been tried, however general Jatropha curcas cultivation has been a dismal failure. This is due to the fact that 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 faster maturity and quicker seed production. It prefers warm environments, but it can make it through a light frost. The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the finest development will be attained with additional watering sometimes. It does not have any major disease or bug concerns in its natural areas. It might be pruned, but flowers and fruit kind on terminal growth, so it is best to wait up until after blooming. No other Jatropha plant care is needed. This plant is helpful as a hedge or living fence, or simply as an ornamental stand-alone specimen.

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Bonnie Grant is an expert landscaper with an Accreditation in Urban Gardening. She has been gardening and composing for 15 years. A previous professional chef, she has an enthusiasm for edible landscaping.