Nevada-based Emerald Energy has hybridized and began issuing saplings to grow a hybrid tree called the MegaFlora. The tree, a cross between the hardwood Black Locust and the deep-rooted Paulownia, can grow on marginal land, requires less water than most commercial crops and can be used as a source for biofuel production.

The tree is estimated to grow up to 50 feet in three years. Its high sugar content makes it a potential source for biofuel production.

Ray Allen, a botanist and CEO of Emerald Energy who has been evaluating the tree and its properties for years, said the tree has multiple uses. Its high sugar content makes it a potential source for biofuel production. Gary Banuelos, a plant and soil scientist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Research Service in Parlier California said he is slightly skeptical of the tree’s ability to survive the west side’s poor soil and water conditions. “A tree with an aggressive root system will tap into the water table where the levels of salt and boron will be very high,” Banuelos said. “So if the irrigation water does not knock them out, the water table could prevent them from growing.”

Allen and the MegaFlora tree may not be widely known, but that should soon change. He is included in the upcoming documentary “Fuel,” which looks at the oil industry and energy alternatives such as solar, wind and biofuels. The film has received several awards including the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. “We have been quietly going about our business,” Allen said. “But it is time to expand this.”

Ceil Howe’s sprawling Kings County California ranch has a greenhouse with tiny MegaFlora that he hopes holds big potential for San Joaquin Valley farmers. Howe and a handful of partnering farmers are growing hundreds of the saplings which are now just a few inches tall and plan to plant them over hundreds of acres in the San Joaquin Valley. The MegaFloras are already planted in the nearby Kettleman Hills and the marginal soils of Fresno County.

Bill Jones, founder of Sacramento-based Pacific Ethanol, which has a plant in Madera County, said he and other ethanol producers are looking for renewable and affordable sources to make biofuel. “If it has dual uses and can be grown in highly saline water conditions, then it is worth looking at.”

Allen already has attracted the attention of Kansas farmers, the documentary filmmaker mentioned above and investors, including Titan Global Industries, a Texas company with interests in telecommunications, electronics and energy resources. Michael D’ Onofrio, vice president of mergers and acquisitions for Titan, visited Howe’s ranch earlier this week as part of a tour sponsored by the Farming Clean Energy Conference in Tulare. D’ Onofrio said his company is interested in the tree for biofuel. One of Titan’s divisions, Titan Global Energy, is focused on the production and distribution of environmentally friendly and sustainable sources of renewable fuels.

Fast growing plants that can lock up CO2 for the most easily recovered and processed carbon products are an area of intense interest. But so far the numbers such as ethanol or biodiesel per acre numbers are pretty limited even though some like algae and sugarcane are impressive. Just what the future holds for carbon dioxide to biofuel plant matter is truly speculative.

What we’re looking for is the annual net tons of carbon product per land unit area price. If humanities’ innovation in the huge commodity crops since Mendel first began the hybridization and genetics technology over one hundred years ago is an indicator, then biofuels are likely to produce the millions of barrels of oil equivalent per day sooner that many expect. It might be that processing technology will fall behind with the capital formation problems in the current economic situation.

The process from sunlight and CO2 to new fuels endlessly recycling within the planet’s carbon cycle is coming and high standards of living should become even more widespread across the earth’s peoples.


Comments

40 Comments so far

  1. Ferdinand Van Wichelen on December 3, 2008 7:09 PM

    I am focused since 4 years on Jatropha Curcas plantations worldwide and see one disaster after the other because J. Curcas is still rather unknown and many farmers in South and South East Asia went bankrupt.

    1) Where is this tree situated in the list of yields of oil per hectare (or acre). As this is an new species a very general estimate is OK for me.
    See list hereunder.
    http://check4links.com/?p=455

    2)In which climate zones can this tree grow best? Can it grow in the drylands of subtropical regions? Can it grow in regions with a winter such as Souther Europe?

  2. Chris McVay on April 8, 2009 6:17 PM

    Ray Allen Lived with my Mother until she lost her house after putting all of her resources time money and life into helping him develop this plant for the last 10 years. I moved my family to San Diego, so did my sister on the promise of a job working to develop this tree. Ray was always making promises of this backer is sending X amount of money on this day then the next day finally three months later we all left San Diego and moved back to our respective cities of origin to rebuild our lives. In the process my marriage fell apart my sisters marriage fell apart along with others whom I am not at liberty to name. He and my mother lived with my sister in Las Vegas, working on the business, always talking about millions if not billion dollar contracts. This man after 10 hard years of leeching off of our family, found a new love somewhere else(bigger pocketbook not yet depleted). The tragedy lies in the fact that he blindsided my mother. Made her 51 percent owner of his previous company and then left her holding the ball with nothing to show for 10 years of selfless dedication to this “tree”. Ray Allen is a con-man. He is a Liar and a thief. He got his degree online, and has claimed to have a doctorate. Phony. I don’t believe he developed this tree. He is a fraud and a liar. I was suppose to be working on this Fresno Project, but these were just words used to manipulate my mother into believing that he still had our interests in mind but he never returned my calls once about the job. He is using his unlimited backers to destroy my mother with litigation after having depleted everything from my family and now his tree is going to save the world? This tree requires tons of nutrients to grow that fast, it can decimate the land it grows on.

  3. Dal Jeanis on April 14, 2009 5:33 PM

    There is more documentation on the false or exaggerated claims for this tree, by Ray Allen and his cronies, over at Megafloraplantations.com

  4. Daniel Bishop Jr. on June 9, 2010 11:48 AM

    This is great. I would like to plant some of these trees, can you e-mail me information pertaining this.

  5. sandra on June 10, 2010 5:40 AM

    Is this tree availabel to the public to be able to buy and grow on their own land.
    If so what is the contact information

  6. nicole on June 10, 2010 2:20 PM

    Same question as Sandra. Can I buy a couple of them?

  7. nicole on June 10, 2010 2:20 PM

    Can I buy a couple of them for my yard?

  8. shirley on June 15, 2010 10:21 AM

    I’m interested in knowing more about this tree and about Emerald Energy. Could you e-mail me information or send a brochure on how to get started with energy from plants.

    About the tree – what is the price for one?

  9. Bernie Bajko on June 15, 2010 10:44 AM

    Please send information about the Megaflora tree. Thank you.

  10. Cindy Engesser on June 15, 2010 11:45 AM

    I e-mailed last week and did not get an answer back! I have 5 acres, 4 of which I’m looking to plant. How much are the cost of the trees, who would have to harvest them for rotation in 3 yrs,? Is it really worth the investment? Please e-mail me back! Cindy

  11. Alison on June 18, 2010 9:49 AM

    I am also very interested in the Mega Flora tree. I would like to plant some on my land as well as my Fathers’. Please send me info on how to purchase these intersting and beautiful species of tree

  12. Alison on June 18, 2010 9:52 AM

    I am also very interested in the Mega Flora tree. Please send me info on how to purchase these intersting and beautiful species of tree

  13. megan on July 8, 2010 5:11 PM

    Are the Mega Flora trees available for retail purchase?

  14. Samantha on August 17, 2010 10:08 AM

    Informative story, saved your site with interest to read more information!

  15. brenda on September 18, 2010 9:23 AM

    I,too would like to grow some trees for my own yard and possible farming, but can’t get anyone to reply on the sites to find out how much, etc..

  16. melinda stevens on October 26, 2010 5:42 AM

    how can i buy a few for my yard? megaflora

  17. melinda stevens on October 26, 2010 5:43 AM

    where can i buy one?

  18. veterinary on November 8, 2010 6:19 AM

    Useful blog website, keep me personally through searching it, I am seriously interested to find out another recommendation of it.

  19. Tina on February 5, 2011 9:07 PM

    Hey there, You have done an excellent job. I’ll certainly digg it and personally suggest to my friends. I’m sure they will benefit from this website.

  20. Chris on February 27, 2011 2:02 AM

    Ray Allen Lived with my Mother until she lost her house after putting all of her resources time money and life into helping him develop this plant for the last 10 years. I moved my family to San Diego, so did my sister on the promise of a job working to develop this tree. Ray was always making promises of this backer is sending X amount of money on this day then the next day finally three months later we all left San Diego and moved back to our respective cities of origin to rebuild our lives. In the process my marriage fell apart my sisters marriage fell apart along with others whom I am not at liberty to name. He and my mother lived with my sister in Las Vegas, working on the business, always talking about millions if not billion dollar contracts. This man after 10 hard years of leeching off of our family, found a new love somewhere else(bigger pocketbook not yet depleted). The tragedy lies in the fact that he blindsided my mother. Made her 51 percent owner of his previous company and then left her holding the ball with nothing to show for 10 years of selfless dedication to this “tree”. Ray Allen is a con-man. He is a Liar and a thief. He got his degree online, and has claimed to have a doctorate. Phony. I don’t believe he developed this tree. He is a fraud and a liar. I was suppose to be working on this Fresno Project, but these were just words used to manipulate my mother into believing that he still had our interests in mind but he never returned my calls once about the job. He is using his unlimited backers to destroy my mother with litigation after having depleted everything from my family and now his tree is going to save the world? This tree requires tons of nutrients to grow that fast, it can decimate the land it grows on.

  21. NOLIN on March 8, 2011 1:53 PM

    I am reading the discussions and I see a lot of people are asking where and how much the Megaflore is. Is there an answer? Where can I buy a Megaflore?

  22. NOLIN on March 8, 2011 1:53 PM

    I am reading the discussions and I see a lot of people are asking where and how much the Megaflore is. Is there an answer? Where can I buy a Megaflora?

  23. KELLY on March 22, 2011 3:20 PM

    On March 10th I sent an e-mail with many questions to the information department of Emerald Plantations and to date have not recieved a reply. I’ll keep trying to get an answer out of them, as I am very interested in the tree.
    As far as I know, the Mega Flora is a root grafted cross between the Paulownia Tree (native to China) and Black Locust. Ordinary Black Locust will grow back from its stump if cut down, and the Paulowania accounts for the huge leaves and rapid growth in the Mega Flora.
    I personally don’t see how anybody could legally claim a trademark on this cross; as root grafting is a very common proceedure. If one could get the root graft to properly take, individuals could probably come up with the same type of tree.
    However, in the mean time, it would indeed be nice if Ray Allen’s Company actually answered their mail.

  24. Ray Allen on April 9, 2011 8:54 AM

    After a year of testing by the world of critics, we have achieved our first goal. All of the tests were better than predicted. We decided with so much bad press and internet discrediting to not plant a single tree in 2010, until all of the tests were completed. Now it is time to go back to work. Anyone with any interest needs to contact me at the above e-mail address direct and I will assign a follow up staff member to contact each and everyone. Ray Allen

  25. Jada Crane on May 23, 2011 8:37 PM

    Awesome post. I so good to see someone taking the time to share this information

  26. Ray Allen on May 24, 2011 11:56 AM

    It is good to see there is still some interest in our work at the Emerald Companies. With our International Business in Vietnam, China, and The Dominican Republic receiving their trees in October this year, We will expect superior results over the first initial plantings. The tree is still a work in progress and new crops are being developed this year using the same technique of grating to support the food industry as well. The low water use has been verified as predicted by the Fresno County Fair Commission. The BTU ratings by Hazen Labs, The carbon uptake also by the same lab. The growth rate has exceeded our predictions and the smell from the dairies has been reduced drastically. Even Chris McVay’s mother and I have mended our business relationship and we both look to a bright future. Ray Allen

  27. Dennis beeson on July 17, 2011 8:24 PM

    Ray Allen,

    Your years of experience of scamming people started 12 plus yrs
    Ago . When you scammed me !! Remember I introduced you to my
    megafoilia trees of which I set a Record of 31 feet in 7 months and
    You took pictures on my root cuttings and called them Megaflora !!!!!
    You still owe me $ 40,000.00 for cuttings !!! Give it up !! You make
    The Paulownia Industry look BAD !!!!!!!!

    Dennis L. Beeson
    Original Megafolia
    The Pacific Tree Co.

  28. Ray Allen on July 18, 2011 10:57 AM

    Mr. Dennis Beeson, has a great Paulownia Tree. Some of this infomation listed is in error and one only needs to read between the lines to see it. I can provide proof the 40,000 he lists as owed had been paid by cancelled checks. It is true I purchased his roots of Mega Folia, in 2003 but when they are root grafted they are no longer Mega Folia. They are MegaFlora. I always have to start with a Paulownia root.

  29. Joan Dafoe on October 4, 2011 8:50 PM

    Intriguing post. I have been searching for some good resources for solar panels and discovered your blog. Planning to bookmark this one!

  30. Kati Edd on October 7, 2011 7:11 PM

    I would like to say “wow” what a inspiring post. This is really great. Keep doing what you’re doing!!

  31. Kati Edd on October 10, 2011 7:24 PM

    Interesting read, perhaps the best article iv’e browse today. We learn everyday cheers to you!

  32. Dennis beeson on March 7, 2012 5:02 AM

    Ray Allen were are your greenhouses now !!! We have 7 greenhouses
    At my research facility in Bakersfield, any one interested in looking at my
    Megafolia Trifolia !!!! We have over 2 billion seeds and a million root cuttings
    Available !!! This is my 21st year of Paulownia growing. !!

    The Pacific Tree Co.
    Dennis Beeson

  33. Ray Allen on March 7, 2012 8:41 AM

    Thanks for the information Mr. Beeson, I may be in the market for some of your roots here in Fresno, as my 1,000,000 are already sold to an International market. send me an e-mail on prices

  34. sundai on April 23, 2012 1:43 PM

    please send order form with prices

    can these trees be eradicated once established?

  35. sami hasanramaj on June 24, 2012 11:21 AM

    Hallo habe Interesse eine sehr Grosse Fläche
    in Germany einzupflanzen mit megaflora baum
    Bittesenden sie mir erst eine Paar Proben
    und die Preise mit ihre Adresse und Kontakt Nummer Danke

  36. Alan Clinton on November 20, 2012 3:49 PM

    You say in a post to email you directly regarding certain questions. Which e-mail are you looking for us to send messages too?

  37. Brian Westenhaus on November 20, 2012 9:04 PM

    The one on the author page.

    BW

  38. Fred blummrntal on January 22, 2013 2:35 PM

    I purchased a handful of megafloras 3 years ago.
    Only 2 out of 10 survived the trip to Ohio. Reason, lousy packaging.
    With all care I nursed the trees, and one grew 6 ft. And the other grew 4 ft by the end of the year. following year was no better, the tallest one was 10 ft by October, the other, 8 ft. Made other experiments with them after I took about 15 root cuttings. No experiment impressed me at all, I rather use the elongata any day. Megafloras have been dumped. his wife was right, he is a fraud.

  39. Terry Lutton on January 18, 2019 3:56 PM

    Ray Allen is a liar and thief! I invested $2,500 on July 10, 2006 for 500 trees at 5.00 a tree. What a joke! I have never received a dime back or can’t reach anyone to find out how to get my money back… I was a fool to believe anything about this man or company. I have all the paper work that proves my investment into nothing. I hope this guy gets what he deserves. Karma will win!

  40. VBIZ7 on September 21, 2020 6:26 PM

    The MegaFlora tree is real and the opportunity is real. Growing the tree in China since 2012

    Have a look at the products created from the trees, the trees continue to grow and produce.

    VIDEO:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrBNjTBLVOg

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