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

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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 toxic, and produces fuel fit for diesel motor. Read on for more jatropha curcas 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 locations. The plant lives for up to 50 years and may grow almost 20 feet (6 m.) tall. 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 aesthetically attractive, however it does get appealing green cymes of flowerets which become a tri-compartment fruit with big black seeds. These large 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 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 brand-new area. Jatropha curcas growing can produce oil that is a great substitute for current biofuels. Its effectiveness has been challenged, but it is true the plant can produce seeds with an oil material of 37%. Unfortunately, it is still a part of the food vs. fuel argument, as it needs land that could go into food production. Scientists are attempting to develop a "extremely Jatropha" with bigger seeds and, therefore, bigger oil yields.

Jatropha Curcas Cultivation

Jatropha usages are rather limited. Most parts of the plant are poisonous to consume due to the latex sap, but it is utilized as a medicinal. It is useful in dealing with snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and apparently some cancers. The plant might have stemmed in Central to South America, but it has been introduced around the globe and flourishes wild in places like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief among Jatropha uses is its prospective as a tidy burning fuel to replace nonrenewable fuel sources. Plantation cultivation in certain locations has actually been attempted, but overall Jatropha curcas cultivation has been a miserable failure. This is since the production mass of oil can not equal the land use by cropping Jatropha.

Jatropha Plant Care and Growth

The plant is easy to grow from cuttings or seed. Cuttings lead to much faster maturity and quicker seed production. It prefers warm climates, but it can make it through a light frost. The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the best growth will be achieved with extra watering occasionally. It doesn't have any major illness or bug problems in its natural areas. It may be pruned, however flowers and fruit form on terminal growth, so it is best to wait until after flowering. No other jatropha curcas plant care is needed. This plant is helpful 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 actually been gardening and writing for 15 years. A previous professional chef, she has a passion for edible landscaping.