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

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Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) was when touted as the brand-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 info and see how you rate this plant.

What is a Jatropha Curcas Tree?

Jatropha is a perennial shrub or tree. It is and simple to grow in tropical to semi-tropical locations. The plant lives for up to 50 years and may grow nearly 20 feet (6 m.) high. 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 become a tri-compartment fruit with big black seeds. These big black seeds are the reason for all the hullaballoo, because they are high in burnable oil. A fascinating 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 shows how adaptable and durable the plant is even when presented to a new area. Jatropha curcas cultivation can produce oil that is a good alternative for current biofuels. Its effectiveness has been challenged, but 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 argument, as it needs land that might go into food production. Scientists are trying to develop a "extremely Jatropha" with larger seeds and, for that reason, 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 used as a medicinal. It is beneficial in dealing with snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and apparently some cancers. The plant might have stemmed in Central to South America, however it has actually been introduced worldwide and flourishes wild in locations like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief amongst jatropha curcas utilizes is its potential as a tidy burning fuel to replace fossil fuels. Plantation cultivation in certain locations has been attempted, however total Jatropha curcas cultivation has actually been a miserable failure. This is because the production mass of oil can not equate to the land usage by cropping Jatropha.

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 prefers warm environments, however it can endure a light frost. The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the very best growth will be achieved with additional watering periodically. It does not have any major disease or insect issues in its natural areas. It may be pruned, but flowers and fruit form on terminal growth, so it is best to wait until after flowering. No other jatropha curcas plant care is required. This plant is helpful as a hedge or living fence, or simply as a decorative stand-alone specimen.

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