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Jatropha (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 type of soil at a fast rate, is harmful, and produces fuel suitable for diesel engines. Keep reading 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 areas. The plant lives for as much as 50 years and might grow nearly 20 feet (6 m.) tall. 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 especially aesthetically enticing, 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 factor for all the hullaballoo, because they are high in burnable oil. An interesting piece of Jatropha tree details is that it is listed as a weed in Brazil, Fiji, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Salvador. This proves how versatile and sturdy the plant is even when introduced to a new area. Jatropha curcas growing can produce oil that is a great replacement for present biofuels. Its effectiveness has been challenged, but it is real 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 "incredibly Jatropha" with larger seeds and, therefore, larger 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, however it is used as a medicinal. It is beneficial in dealing with snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and obviously some cancers. The plant might have stemmed in Central to South America, however it has been presented all over the world and flourishes wild in places like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief amongst Jatropha utilizes is its prospective as a clean burning fuel to replace fossil fuels. Plantation cultivation in certain locations has been tried, but general 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.

Jatropha 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, however it can survive a light frost. The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the finest growth will be attained with extra watering sometimes. It doesn't have any major illness or pest issues in its natural regions. It may be pruned, but flowers and fruit type on terminal growth, so it is best to wait until after flowering. No other Jatropha plant care is essential. 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 an expert landscaper with an Accreditation in Urban Gardening. She has been gardening and writing for 15 years. A former expert chef, she has a passion for edible landscaping.