INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND FLORIDA
 1 AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES COOPERATIVE
 IFs. UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA EXTENSION SERVICE

 THE URBAN GARDENER
I I I III I II


January, 1981


Vol. 6, No. 1


 JOJOBA: WHAT IS IT?

Introduction
 Jojoba (pronounced hohoba) is a shrub of the Sonoran Desert that has recently received
widespread attention. Known scientifically as Simmondsia chinensis (Link) Schneider, its
acorn-like seeds contain an oil for which many uses have been suggested. Much "of the
popular attention jojoba has received is due to the possibility that jojoba oil can be
substituted for sperm whale oil.
 An important industry based on utilization of jojoba is on the horzion in the
Southwestern U. S., Mexico, and throughout the arid world. Two factors point optimistically
toward a successful jojoba industry in the southwestern U.S.:
 1) Extensive stands.of native jojoba occur throughout Southern Arizona, and jojoba may
 be successfully cultivated in Arizona and California in numerous suitable locations
 with a minimum or irrigation.
 2) A wealth of scientific literature and laboratory tests indicate considerable
 potential for a variety of jojoba products.

 General Information
 The native habitat of jojoba in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, California, and
 Mexico covers 100,000 square miles between latitudes 250 and 31N. There are many separate
 populations varying from a few individuals to several hundred per acre, and some extensive
 populations with millions of individual plants occur. In the Sonoran Desert this dioecious
 (male and female flowers occur on separate plants) evergreen shrub generally occupies
 elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 feet. However, in Baja California and some locations
 in Sonora it occurs at sea level. Rainfall throughout its range is 5" to 18" annually.
 Temperatures range from highs of 1150F to lows of 150F, but seedlings are sensitive to
 light frosts of 3 to 4 degrees below freezing. Jojoba is considered an important year-
 round forage plant for desert bighorn sheep and desert mule deer. _It is also excellent
 browse for game and livestock, and the seeds are utilized by birds and rodents. However,
 seed meal is highly toxic to humans and most animals.


Oil Characteristics
 Color
 Odor
 Stability

 Sulfurization

 Solubility


Crude, light yellow; refined, clear
Mild, pleasant
Does not become rancid after standing for long periods;
unsaturated and not easily oxidized; not damaged by repeated
hearings to 2850C or by heating for 4 days at 3700C; nonvolatile.
Reacts with sulfur to yield stable product with relatively large
amounts of sulfur (about 25% more than sperm whale oil or lard
oils); darkens only slightly on sulfurization and remains liquid.
Soluble in benzene, petroleum ether, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride,
carbon disulfide, and hexane.


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