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Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) was once touted as the new wunderkind plant for biofuel. What is a tree? The tree or bush grows in any kind of soil at a fast rate, is harmful, and produces fuel fit 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 seasonal shrub or tree. It is drought-resistant and easy to grow in tropical to semi-tropical locations. The plant lives for up to 50 years and may grow almost 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 especially visually attractive, however it does get appealing green cymes of flowerets which turn into a tri-compartment fruit with big black seeds. These big black seeds are the factor for all the hullaballoo, since they are high in burnable oil. An intriguing 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 sturdy the plant is even when introduced to a new region. Jatropha curcas growing can produce oil that is a good alternative for present biofuels. Its effectiveness has actually been challenged, but 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 dispute, as it requires land that might go into food production. Scientists are trying to develop a "super Jatropha" with larger seeds and, therefore, bigger oil yields.

Jatropha Curcas Cultivation

jatropha curcas uses are rather limited. Most parts of the plant are poisonous to consume due to the latex sap, but it is utilized as a medical. It is helpful in dealing with snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and apparently some cancers. The plant might have come from Central to South America, however it has been introduced worldwide and flourishes wild in places like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief amongst Jatropha uses is its prospective as a clean burning fuel to change nonrenewable fuel sources. Plantation growing in certain locations has been attempted, however general Jatropha curcas growing has been a dismal 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 faster 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 finest development will be attained with additional watering occasionally. It doesn't have any major illness or bug problems in its natural areas. It may be pruned, however flowers and fruit kind on terminal growth, so it is best to wait till after blooming. No other Jatropha plant care is needed. This plant works 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 been gardening and composing for 15 years. A previous professional chef, she has an enthusiasm for edible landscaping.