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Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) was when touted 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 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 easy 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.) high. 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 particularly visually enticing, but 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, since they are high in burnable oil. An interesting piece of Jatropha tree details is that it is noted 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 presented to a new area. Jatropha curcas cultivation can produce oil that is a great substitute for current biofuels. Its effectiveness has actually been challenged, however 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 dispute, as it requires land that could enter into food production. Scientists are trying to establish a "super Jatropha" with bigger seeds and, therefore, larger oil yields.

Jatropha Curcas Cultivation

jatropha curcas usages are rather limited. Most parts of the plant are toxic to eat due to the latex sap, however it is used as a medicinal. It works in treating snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and apparently some cancers. The plant may have come from in Central to South America, however it has been introduced around the globe and flourishes wild in places like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief among Jatropha uses is its potential as a clean burning fuel to replace fossil fuels. Plantation cultivation in specific areas has been tried, but overall Jatropha curcas growing has actually been a miserable failure. This is because the production mass of oil can not equate to the land usage 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 chooses warm climates, but it can make it through a light frost. The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the very best development will be accomplished with additional watering occasionally. It doesn't have any significant disease or bug concerns in its natural regions. It may be pruned, however flowers and fruit form on terminal development, so it is best to wait until after flowering. No other Jatropha plant care is essential. This plant works as a hedge or living fence, or just as an ornamental stand-alone specimen.

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