It is also used as a house plant. The oil from Jatropha curcas is mainly converted into biodiesel for use in diesel engines. The cake resulting from oil extraction, a protein-rich product, can be used for fish or animal feed (if detoxified).
Jatropha curcas L. is a plant belonging to Euphorbiaceae family that produces a significant amount of oil from its seeds. This is a non-edible oil-bearing plant widespread in arid, semi-arid and tropical regions of the world.
Tuba-tuba or tubang bakod is primarily cultivated in the Philippines for its seed oil, which is a raw material for candles, soap, varnish, and lamp oil. It has been known as a substitute for diesel oil.
The barbados nut (J. curcas), with yellow-green flowers and three- to five-lobed leaves on trees 6 m tall from Mexico and Central America, produces seeds from which cooking oil, soap, and a strong purgative are obtained.
The leaves, on the other hand, can be used to treat a wide range of medicinal conditions such as coughs, convulsions, jaundice, fevers, rheumatic pains, guinea worm sores, wounds and cuts, sores, etc. The seeds can be used as a purgative but only in small doses.
<> There are many species of sage. This plant is only known to me by its Yoruba name, which is ASUWON-OYINBO, and by its name in the Efik language of Nigeria's Cross River State, where it is known as ARUWANA-SI.
Roselle (plant)
| Roselle |
|---|
| Tribe: | Hibisceae |
| Genus: | Hibiscus |
| Species: | H. sabdariffa |
| Binomial name |
To make steamed chaya, remove leaves from stems of the plant, rinse under cold water. Cover chaya leaves with cold water in a medium saucepan. Bring the leaves to a boil on medium-high, reduce to simmer for 20 minutes. Discard water and roughly chop the boiled leaves.
Cnidoscolus aconitifolius, commonly known as chaya or tree spinach, is a large, fast-growing leafy perennial shrub that is believed to have originated in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. It is a popular leaf vegetable in Mexican and Central American cuisines, similar to spinach.
Barbados nut (Jatropha curcas) has been sold as “Florida pistachio.” All plants in the Jatropha genus are considered to have poisonous seeds. When ingested the seeds cause violent purging. Coontie (Zamia pumila) - native ornamental, eating the seeds can result in death for humans and dogs!
Availability of Jatropha seeds remains a major problem in increasing the production of biodiesel in India. However, due to constraints like very poor Jatropha seed yield, limited availability of wasteland and high plantation and maintenance costs, biodiesel projects became unviable.
Oils from Jatropha, melon, palm oil, soybean, sugar cane, and used oil can be used to make biodiesel. Jatropha is very important in the production of biodiesel since it is a nonedible plant and will not cause competition on human food.
Jatropha curcas is lauded as being sustainable, and that its production would not compete with food production, but the jatropha plant needs water like every other crop to grow. This could create competition for water between the jatropha and other edible food crops.
Jatropha can be planted in a well-drained location. Jatropha is not too particular when it comes to the soil and location. But the plant must be planted in an area where there is partial/full sunlight. The plant can be grown as a mixed shrub or as a hedge.
You can obtain jatropha seeds from commercial suppliers. If you have a tree, harvest the jatropha fruits when they are yellow to dark brown and about 1 inch long. Let them dry in the sun, then grind them between boards to remove the hulls. Winnow the seeds by throwing both seeds and hulls into the air on a windy day.
Jatropha grows in tropical and sub tropical regions, with cultivation limits at 30ºN and 35ºS. It also grows in lower altitudes of 0-500 metres above sea level (see Figure 6).
Jatropha curcas is considered a shrub or small tree and can reach a height of 20 ft. or more. Trees can have a productive life of 40 to 50 years without tending. Uses of the plant include medical, edible and as a source of oil for biofuels. The young shoots and even young leaves can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable.
What is the botanical name of Jatropha?
