Jojoba bush - Photo by Homer Edward Price
Jojoba is a shrub which is grown for the jojoba oil, a liquid wax in its seeds.
The jojoba oil has various uses for example as lubricating oil, in pharmaceutical products, as bio-diesel fuel, or cooking oil.
Jojoba originates from North America and is cultivated in desert and semi-desert regions.
Names
Scientific
Simmondsia chinensis
Synonym
Buxus chinensis
Simmondsia californica
English
Deer nut
Goat nut
Gray box bush
Jojoba
Pignut
Quinine nut
Wild hazel
Dutch
Jojoba
Spanish
Jojoba
French
Jojoba
Noix de brebis
Or du désert
German
Jojoba
Jojobastrauch
Italian
Jojoba
Taxonomy
Order
Caryophyllales
Family
Simmondsiaceae
Genus
Simmondsia
Species
Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba)
Basic information and facts
Origin:
North America (the scientific name suggests China as the origin, but this is a mistake).
Distribution:
Jojoba is commercially grown in Argentina, Australia, Israel, Mexico, Peru and the USA.
Annual, biennial, or perennial:
Plant:
Jojoba is a shrub which can be 1 to 2 meters tall. Plants are either male or female.
Fruits:
An ovoid acorn-shaped capsule of 1 to 2 centimeters length. The hard oval, dark brown seeds contain a liquid wax (jojoba oil).
Climate and weather:
Jojoba grows in desert and semi-desert areas.
Pollination:
By wind.
Height:
Usually 1 to 2 meters tall.
Propagation:
?
Uses:
Jojoba oil is a valuable oil that is often used in pharmaceutical products (e.g. skin products). It can also be used as lubricant, as a bio-fuel, etc..
Crop categories
Arid crops
Energy crops
Mediterranean crops
Minor crops
Subtropical crops
Vegetable oils
Pictures
Jojoba - Photo by Bri Weldon
Jojoba fruits - Photo by Ken Bosma
Jojoba - Photo by Wendy Cutler
Jojoba - Photo by Leslie Seaton