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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 kind of soil at a fast rate, is toxic, and produces fuel fit for diesel motor. Continue reading for more Jatropha 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 simple to grow in tropical to semi-tropical places. The plant lives for as much as 50 years and might grow almost 20 feet (6 m.) tall. It has a deep, thick taproot which makes it versatile 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 become a tri-compartment fruit with large black seeds. These big black seeds are the factor for all the hullaballoo, due to the fact that they are high in burnable oil. An intriguing piece of Jatropha tree info 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 region. Jatropha curcas growing can produce oil that is an excellent replacement for present biofuels. Its effectiveness has actually been challenged, but it is real the plant can produce seeds with an oil material of 37%. Unfortunately, it is still a part of the food vs. fuel dispute, as it requires land that could enter into food production. Scientists are trying to develop a "very Jatropha" with larger seeds and, therefore, bigger oil yields.

Jatropha Curcas Cultivation

Jatropha usages are rather restricted. Most parts of the plant are hazardous to eat due to the latex sap, but it is utilized as a medicinal. It is helpful in dealing with snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and apparently some cancers. The plant might have come from in Central to South America, but it has actually been introduced all over the world and flourishes wild in places like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief among Jatropha utilizes is its potential as a clean burning fuel to change fossil fuels. Plantation cultivation in specific areas has actually been attempted, but overall Jatropha curcas growing has been a depressing 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 result in much faster maturity and seed production. It prefers warm climates, however it can endure a light frost. The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the finest growth will be achieved with supplemental watering periodically. It doesn't have any significant disease or bug issues in its natural regions. It might be pruned, but flowers and fruit form on terminal development, so it is best to wait up until after flowering. No other Jatropha plant care is necessary. This plant is useful as a hedge or living fence, or just as a decorative stand-alone specimen.

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