1 What is a Jatropha Curcas Tree: Jatropha Uses in The Landscape

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Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) was when promoted 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 hazardous, and produces fuel suitable for diesel motor. 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 areas. The plant lives for as much as 50 years and may grow nearly 20 feet (6 m.) tall. 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 aesthetically enticing, but it does get attractive green cymes of flowerets which turn into a tri-compartment fruit with large black seeds. These big black seeds are the factor for all the hullaballoo, because 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 introduced to a new area. Jatropha curcas cultivation can produce oil that is a great alternative to existing biofuels. Its usefulness has been challenged, however it holds 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 needs land that might go into food production. Scientists are trying to establish a "incredibly jatropha curcas" with bigger seeds and, for that reason, larger oil yields.

Jatropha Curcas Cultivation

Jatropha usages are rather limited. Most parts of the plant are toxic to consume due to the latex sap, however it is used as a medicinal. It works in treating snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and obviously some cancers. The plant might have come from Central to South America, but it has been presented all over the world and flourishes wild in places like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief amongst Jatropha uses is its prospective as a clean burning fuel to change fossil fuels. Plantation cultivation in certain areas has been attempted, however overall Jatropha curcas cultivation has actually been a miserable failure. This is due to the fact that the production mass of oil can not equate to the land usage by cropping Jatropha.

jatropha curcas Plant Care and Growth

The plant is simple to grow from cuttings or seed. Cuttings lead to much 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 best development will be achieved with extra watering periodically. It doesn't have any major illness or insect concerns 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 needed. This plant works as a hedge or living fence, or simply as an ornamental stand-alone specimen.

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Bonnie Grant is a professional 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 edible landscaping.