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Jatropha
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Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L) is a small deciduous tree or shrub native to Mexico and Central America. It is related to Castor, but less toxic. Jatropha's usefulness as a medicinal plant led to its cultivation throughout the tropic and subtropic regions of the world. It is now emerging as an important oilseed energy crop, particularly in India and Southeast Asia, where the unmodified oil has a history of use as a petroleum diesel and kerosene substitute. The oil is readily converted to biodiesel by a low-cost, single step process. Jatropha has been extensively studied in Europe, but at present little if any information is available on jatropha cultivation and practical use in the United States.
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