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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 hazardous, and produces fuel suitable 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 seasonal shrub or tree. It is drought-resistant and easy to grow in tropical to semi-tropical places. The plant lives for up to 50 years and might grow almost 20 feet (6 m.) tall. It has a deep, thick taproot which makes it versatile to bad, dry soil. The leaves are oval, lobed, and deciduous. Overall, the plant is not especially visually attractive, but it does get attractive green cymes of flowerets which turn into a tri-compartment fruit with big black seeds. These large black seeds are the reason for all the hullaballoo, because they are high in burnable oil. An intriguing 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 proves how adaptable and hardy the plant is even when presented to a brand-new area. Jatropha curcas cultivation can produce oil that is a good substitute for current biofuels. Its effectiveness has actually been challenged, but it is 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 might go into food production. Scientists are attempting to develop a "super Jatropha" with larger seeds and, therefore, bigger oil yields.

Jatropha Curcas Cultivation

Jatropha uses are rather limited. Most parts of the plant are toxic to eat due to the latex sap, but it is utilized as a medical. It works in treating snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and apparently some cancers. The plant may have come from Central to South America, however it has been presented worldwide and flourishes wild in places like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief among jatropha curcas utilizes is its potential as a tidy burning fuel to change nonrenewable fuel sources. Plantation cultivation in specific areas has been attempted, however general Jatropha curcas cultivation has been a depressing failure. This is since the production mass of oil can not equate to the land use by cropping jatropha curcas.

Plant Care and Growth

The plant is simple to grow from cuttings or seed. Cuttings lead to quicker maturity and quicker seed production. It prefers warm climates, but it can survive a light frost. The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the best development will be achieved with supplemental watering sometimes. It does not have any major illness or insect issues in its natural regions. It might be pruned, however 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 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 a Certification in Urban Gardening. She has actually been gardening and composing for 15 years. A previous expert chef, she has a passion for edible landscaping.