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jatropha curcas (Jatropha curcas) was once touted 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 fit for diesel engines. Continue reading for more Jatropha tree details 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 locations. The plant lives for up to 50 years and may grow almost 20 feet (6 m.) high. It has a deep, thick taproot which makes it adaptable to bad, dry soil. The leaves are oval, lobed, and deciduous. Overall, the plant is not particularly aesthetically appealing, however it does get appealing green cymes of flowerets which develop into a tri-compartment fruit with big black seeds. These large black seeds are the reason for all the hullaballoo, since they are high in burnable oil. A fascinating piece of jatropha curcas tree info is that it is listed as a weed in Brazil, Fiji, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Salvador. This shows how adaptable and sturdy the plant is even when introduced to a new area. Jatropha curcas growing can produce oil that is a great alternative to present biofuels. Its effectiveness has actually 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 debate, as it requires land that might go into food production. Scientists are attempting to establish a "extremely Jatropha" with bigger seeds and, therefore, larger oil yields.

Jatropha Curcas Cultivation

Jatropha usages are rather restricted. Most parts of the plant are poisonous to eat due to the latex sap, but it is used as a medicinal. It works in treating snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and obviously some cancers. The plant may have come from Central to South America, but it has been presented around the globe and flourishes wild in locations like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief among Jatropha utilizes is its prospective as a clean burning fuel to replace nonrenewable fuel sources. Plantation growing in particular locations has been attempted, but total Jatropha curcas growing has been a disappointing 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 result in faster maturity and quicker seed production. It prefers warm environments, however it can survive a light frost. The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the very best growth will be accomplished with additional watering sometimes. It doesn't have any major illness or pest concerns in its natural areas. It might be pruned, however flowers and fruit kind on terminal growth, so it is best to wait up until after blooming. No other jatropha curcas 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 an expert landscaper with a Certification in Urban Gardening. She has been gardening and writing for 15 years. A previous expert chef, she has a passion for .