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Ricinus communis

(Caster Oil Plant)

Overview

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Shrub or tree , probably from Africa, now found in all warm countries; probably introduced into Hawaii in the early 1800's. Now naturalized . The seeds are used as a source of castor oil , but also contain a violent poison that can be fatal in very small doses . This very poisonous plant which provides castor oil is naturalized in Hawaii. Notice the female flowers in the upper part of the inflorescence and the male flowers below. Petals are absent and the calyx is caducous . The tiny stamens are very numerous , up to 1,000 per staminate flower .

Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in Afrikaans:

Kaster Boon, Kasterolieboom

Common Names in Arabic:

Kharwa

Common Names in Bengali:

Bherenda

Common Names in Burmese:

Kesu, Kyekesu

Common Names in Chinese:

Bi Ma, Ma Hong Liang

Common Names in Danish:

Rizinus

Common Names in Dutch:

Wonderboom, Wonderolieboon

Common Names in English:

Caster Oil Plant, Castor, Castor Bean, Castor Oil Plant, Castor-Bean, Castor-Oil-Plant, Castorbean, Higuera Infernal, Krapata, Lama Palagi, Maskerekur, Mole Bean, Palma Christi, Palma-Christi, Ricin, Toto Ni Vavalagi, Uluchula Skoki, Wonder Tree

Common Names in Finnish:

Risiini

Common Names in French:

Févé Castor (Canada), Grand Ricin, Ricin, Ricin Commun

Common Names in German:

Christuspalme, Gemeiner Wunderbaum, Hundsbaum, Kreuzbaum, Läusebaum, Römische Bohne (Switzerland), Ricinusstrauch, Rizinus, Rizinuspflanze, Wunderbaum

Common Names in Gujarati:

Divelli, Divelligo, Tirki

Common Names in Hebrew:

Kikayon, Kikayon Matzuy

Common Names in Hindi:

Arand, Arandi, Arend, अर۟डी, Erand, Erandi

Common Names in Italian:

Fico D´inferno, Fico D'inferno, Ricino

Common Names in Japanese:

Casutaa Biin, Hima, Rikinusu, Rishin, Tougoma

Common Names in Malagasy:

Kimanga, Kinamena, Tanatanamanga

Common Names in Malay:

Jarak, Jarak (Bali), Jarak (Java), Miniak Jarak (Oil)

Common Names in Malayalam:

Erandam

Common Names in Persian:

Khirwa, Khora

Common Names in Portuguese:

Bofareira (Cape Verde), Carrapateiro (Brazil), Mamona (Brazil), Mamoneira (Brazil), Palma Christi (Brazil), Rícino, Ricino Mamona, Tártago

Common Names in Spanish:

Agaliya, Catapucia Mayor (Colombia), Costa Rica), Higuera Del Diablo, Higuera Infernal (Mexico, Higuereta (Cuba, Higuerilla, Higuerilla (Colombia, Higuerillo (Mexico), Higuerillo Blanco, Higuerillo Rojo, Higuierilla (Peru), Paraguay), Puerto Rico ), Ricino, Tártago (Venezuela), Tártago Ricino (Uruguay)

Common Names in Sundanese:

Jarak, Jarak Jitun, Jarak Kaliki

Common Names in Swahili:

Mbalika (Kenya)

Common Names in Swedish:

Ricin

Common Names in Tagalog:

Tangan-Tangan

Common Names in Telugu:

Amudamu, Chittamudamy, Erandamu

Common Names in Thai:

Lahung, Lahung Daeng (Central Thailand), Mahong, Mahong Hin (Northern Thailand)

Common Names in Urdu:

Eranda

Description

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Family Euphorbiaceae

The Euphorbiaceae are mostly monoecious herbs, shrubs , and trees , sometimes succulent and cactus-like, comprising one of the largest families of plants with about 300 genera and 7,500 species that are further characterized by the frequent occurrence of milky sap . The leaves are mostly alternate but may be opposite or whorled and they are simple , or compound , or sometimes highly reduced. Stipules are generally present but may be reduced to hairs , glands or spines. The flowers are unisexual and usually actinomorphic . They may be highly reduced by suppression of parts, in the extreme form consisting of a naked stamen as a male flower and a naked pistil as a female flower. A specialized type of miniature inflorescence called a cyathium occurs in about 1,500 species comprising the genera Euphorbia and Chamaesyce. The cyathium consists of a single naked pistillate flower surrounded by cymes of naked staminate flowers, each consisting of a single stamen. These flowers are all enclosed in a cup-like involucre that typically is provided with peripheral nectaries and petaloid appendages such that the whole aggregation closely resembles a single flower. In other members of the family the flowers and inflorescences are more ordinary in appearance , with male and female flowers typically bearing a 5-merous calyx and corolla of distinct segments, although the corolla is sometimes absent. In these forms the androecium most commonly consists of 5, 10 or sometimes numerous distinct or monadelphous stamens. The gynoecium of female flowers consists of a single compound pistil of typically 3 carpels, an equal number of styles or primary style branches, and a superior ovary with typically 3 locules, each bearing 1 or 2 collateral , axile-apical pendulous ovules. The fruit is usually a capsular schizocarp. -- Gerald Carr.

Physical Description

Species Ricinus communis

Herbs erect , often single-stemmed but sometimes bushlike or treelike, 2-5(-10) m tall; younger parts glaucous, whole plant often reddish or purplish. Stipules connate , 2-3 cm; petiole 20-40 cm; leaf blade palmately 7-11-lobed, 30-50(-100) × 30-50(-100) cm, margin serrate. Inflorescence to 30 cm. Male flowers: pedicels 5-17 mm; calyx lobes 5-8 × 3-5 mm; stamens 7-8 mm. Female flowers: pedicels 5-10 mm; sepals ca. 5 mm; styles 2-5 mm. Fruiting pedicel to 45 mm; capsule ellipsoid or ovoid , 1.5-2.5 cm, echinate , spines to ca. 5 mm, sometimes smooth . Seed 7-12 mm, grayish, silvery, or beige with darker markings; caruncle depressed-conical, 2-3 mm wide. Fl. Jun-Sep, or Jan-Dec. [source]

Habit: Tree , Shrub , Subshrub

Flowers: Bloom Period: July, August. • Flower Color: red

Size/Age/Growth

Size: 4-6' tall.

Habitat

Cultivated, ruderal weed , sometimes naturalized in riverbeds; below 100-500(-2300) m [1].

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 4,936 meters (0 to 16,194 feet).[2]

Biology

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Reproduction

Duration: Annual , Perennial

Growth

Culture: Space 36-48" apart.

Soil: Minimum pH: 6.1 • Maximum pH: 7.5

Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Full Sun .

Moisture: Drought Tolerance: High

Temperature: Cold Hardiness: 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11. (map)

Taxonomy

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Unambiguous Synonyms

  1. Cataputia major Ludw.
  2. Cataputia minor Ludw.
  3. Croton spinosus L.
  4. Ricinus africanus Mill.
  5. Ricinus angulatus Thunb.
  6. Ricinus armatus Andr.
  7. Ricinus atropurpureus Pax and K. Hoffm.
  8. Ricinus badius Rchb.
  9. Ricinus borboniensis Pax and K. Hoffm.
  10. Ricinus cambodgensis Benary
  11. Ricinus communis forma americanus Müll. Arg.
  12. Ricinus communis forma argentatus T. Carvalho
  13. Ricinus communis forma argyratus T. Carvalho
  14. Ricinus communis forma atratus T. Carvalho
  15. Ricinus communis forma atrobrunneatus T. Carvalho
  16. Ricinus communis forma atrofulvatus T. Carvalho
  17. Ricinus communis forma atrofuscatus T. Carvalho
  18. Ricinus communis forma atrophoeniceus T. Carvalho
  19. Ricinus communis forma atropunicatus T. Carvalho
  20. Ricinus communis forma atropurpureatus T. Carvalho
  21. Ricinus communis forma avellanatus T. Carvalho
  22. Ricinus communis forma blumeanus Müll. Arg.
  23. Ricinus communis forma canatus T. Carvalho
  24. Ricinus communis forma canescens T. Carvalho
  25. Ricinus communis forma carneatus T. Carvalho
  26. Ricinus communis forma cervatus T. Carvalho
  27. Ricinus communis forma cinerascens T. Carvalho
  28. Ricinus communis forma cinereatus T. Carvalho
  29. Ricinus communis forma denudatus Müll. Arg.
  30. Ricinus communis forma epiglaucus Müll. Arg.
  31. Ricinus communis forma erythrocladus Müll. Arg.
  32. Ricinus communis forma exiguus T. Carvalho
  33. Ricinus communis forma fulvatus T. Carvalho
  34. Ricinus communis forma fumatus T. Carvalho
  35. Ricinus communis forma fuscatus T. Carvalho
  36. Ricinus communis forma gilvus T. Carvalho
  37. Ricinus communis forma glaucus (Hoffmanns.) Müll. Arg.
  38. Ricinus communis forma gracilis Müll. Arg.
  39. Ricinus communis forma guttatus T. Carvalho
  40. Ricinus communis forma hybridus (Besser) Müll. Arg.
  41. Ricinus communis forma incarnatus T. Carvalho
  42. Ricinus communis forma inermis (Mill.) Müll. Arg.
  43. Ricinus communis forma intermedius Müll. Arg.
  44. Ricinus communis forma laevis /i> (Dc.) Müll. Arg.
  45. Ricinus communis forma macrophyllus Müll. Arg.
  46. Ricinus communis forma maculatus T. Carvalho
  47. Ricinus communis forma marmoreatus T. Carvalho
  48. Ricinus communis forma murinatus T. Carvalho
  49. Ricinus communis forma nigellus T. Carvalho
  50. Ricinus communis forma nigrescens T. Carvalho
  51. Ricinus communis forma niveatus T. Carvalho
  52. Ricinus communis forma oblongus T. Carvalho
  53. Ricinus communis forma obscurus T. Carvalho
  54. Ricinus communis forma oligacanthus Müll. Arg.
  55. Ricinus communis forma ostrinatus T. Carvalho
  56. Ricinus communis forma pardalinus T. Carvalho
  57. Ricinus communis forma picturatus T. Carvalho
  58. Ricinus communis forma plumbeatus T. Carvalho
  59. Ricinus communis forma pruinosus Müll. Arg.
  60. Ricinus communis forma pullatus T. Carvalho
  61. Ricinus communis forma punctatus T. Carvalho
  62. Ricinus communis forma punctulatus T. Carvalho
  63. Ricinus communis forma punicans T. Carvalho
  64. Ricinus communis forma purpurascens (Bertol.) Pax
  65. Ricinus communis forma radiatus T. Carvalho
  66. Ricinus communis forma rufescens T. Carvalho
  67. Ricinus communis forma russatus T. Carvalho
  68. Ricinus communis forma rutilans Müll. Arg.
  69. Ricinus communis forma scaber (Bertol. Ex Moris) Müll. Arg.
  70. Ricinus communis forma scriptus T. Carvalho
  71. Ricinus communis forma sordidus T. Carvalho
  72. Ricinus communis forma stigmosus T. Carvalho
  73. Ricinus communis forma striatus T. Carvalho
  74. Ricinus communis forma subpurpurascens Müll. Arg.
  75. Ricinus communis forma subrotundus T. Carvalho
  76. Ricinus communis forma subviridus Müll. Arg.
  77. Ricinus communis forma sulcatus T. Carvalho
  78. Ricinus communis forma tigrinus T. Carvalho
  79. Ricinus communis forma umbrinus T. Carvalho
  80. Ricinus communis forma venosus T. Carvalho
  81. Ricinus communis forma vinatus T. Carvalho
  82. Ricinus communis forma viridis (Willd.) Müll. Arg.
  83. Ricinus communis forma zebrinus T. Carvalho
  84. Ricinus communis forma zollingeri Müll. Arg.
  85. Ricinus communis forma zonatus T. Carvalho
  86. Ricinus communis indicus Popova and Moshkin
  87. Ricinus communis manshuricus V. Bork.
  88. Ricinus communis mexicanus Popova
  89. Ricinus communis persicus Popova
  90. Ricinus communis ruderalis Popova and Moshkin
  91. Ricinus communis sanguineus Popova
  92. Ricinus communis sinensis Hiltebr.
  93. Ricinus communis sinensis Popova and Moshkin
  94. Ricinus communis var. aegyptiaceus (Popova) Moshkin
  95. Ricinus communis var. africanus Müll. Arg.
  96. Ricinus communis var. almeidae T. Carvalho
  97. Ricinus communis var. amblyocalyx Müll. Arg.
  98. Ricinus communis var. americanus (Müll. Arg.) T. Carvalho
  99. Ricinus communis var. armatus (Andr.) Müll. Arg.
  100. Ricinus communis var. badius (Rchb.) Müll. Arg.
  101. Ricinus communis var. bailundensis Coult.
  102. Ricinus communis var. benguelensis Müll. Arg.
  103. Ricinus communis var. blumeanus (Müll. Arg.) T. Carvalho
  104. Ricinus communis var. brasiliensis Müll. Arg. ex Pax and K. Hoffm.
  105. Ricinus communis var. brevinodis Moshkin
  106. Ricinus communis var. caesius Popova
  107. Ricinus communis var. epruinosus T. Carvalho
  108. Ricinus communis var. erythrocladus (Müll. Arg.) T. Carvalho
  109. Ricinus communis var. genuinus Müll. Arg.
  110. Ricinus communis var. glauceus T. Carvalho
  111. Ricinus communis var. glaucus Popova and Moshkin
  112. Ricinus communis var. gracilis (Müll. Arg.) T. Carvalho
  113. Ricinus communis var. griseofolius Moshkin
  114. Ricinus communis var. griseus T. Carvalho
  115. Ricinus communis var. hybridus (Besser) Müll. Arg.
  116. Ricinus communis var. indehiscens Moshkin
  117. Ricinus communis var. inermis (Mill.) Pax and K. Hoffm.
  118. Ricinus communis var. japonicus Popova and Moshkin
  119. Ricinus communis var. leucocarpus (Bertol.) Müll. Arg.
  120. Ricinus communis var. lividus (Jacq.) Müll. Arg.
  121. Ricinus communis var. macrocarpus T. Carvalho
  122. Ricinus communis var. macrophyllus (Müll. Arg.) T. Carvalho
  123. Ricinus communis var. megalospermus (Delile) Müll. Arg.
  124. Ricinus communis var. mexicanus (Popova) Moshkin
  125. Ricinus communis var. microcarpus Müll. Arg.
  126. Ricinus communis var. microspermus Moshkin
  127. Ricinus communis var. minor Steud.
  128. Ricinus communis var. nanus Moshkin
  129. Ricinus communis var. pruinosus (Müll. Arg.) T. Carvalho
  130. Ricinus communis var. purpurascens (Bertol.) Müll. Arg.
  131. Ricinus communis var. reichenbachianus Müll. Arg.
  132. Ricinus communis var. rheedianus Müll. Arg.
  133. Ricinus communis var. roseus Popova and Moshkin
  134. Ricinus communis var. roseus T. Carvalho
  135. Ricinus communis var. rugosus Müll. Arg.
  136. Ricinus communis var. rutilans (Müll. Arg.) T. Carvalho
  137. Ricinus communis var. sanguineus Baill.
  138. Ricinus communis var. speciosus (Burm. F.) Müll. Arg.
  139. Ricinus communis var. spontaneus Popova and Moshkin
  140. Ricinus communis var. subpurpurascens Müll. Arg.
  141. Ricinus communis var. subviridus (Müll. Arg.) T. Carvalho
  142. Ricinus communis var. typicus Fiori
  143. Ricinus communis var. undulatus (Besser) Müll. Arg.
  144. Ricinus communis var. vasconcellosii T. Carvalho
  145. Ricinus communis var. violaceocaulis Moshkin
  146. Ricinus communis var. violaceus T. Carvalho
  147. Ricinus communis var. violeus T. Carvalho
  148. Ricinus communis var. virens Popova
  149. Ricinus communis var. viridis Popova and Moshkin
  150. Ricinus communis var. viridus (Willd.) T. Carvalho
  151. Ricinus communis zanzibarinus Popova
  152. Ricinus compactus Huber
  153. Ricinus digitatus Noronha
  154. Ricinus europaeus T. Nees
  155. Ricinus Gibsonii Auct.
  156. Ricinus giganteus Pax and K. Hoffm.
  157. Ricinus glaucus Hoffmanns.
  158. Ricinus hybridus Besser
  159. Ricinus inermis Mill.
  160. Ricinus japonicus Thunb.
  161. Ricinus krappa Steud.
  162. Ricinus laevis Dc.
  163. Ricinus leucocarpus Bertol.
  164. Ricinus lividus Jacq.
  165. Ricinus macrocarpus indicus Popova
  166. Ricinus macrocarpus japonicus Popova
  167. Ricinus macrocarpus Popova
  168. Ricinus macrocarpus sanguineus Popova
  169. Ricinus macrocarpus var. nudus Popova
  170. Ricinus macrophyllus Bertol.
  171. Ricinus medicus Forssk.
  172. Ricinus medius J. F. Gmel.
  173. Ricinus megalosperma Delile
  174. Ricinus messeniacus Heldr.
  175. Ricinus metallicus Pax and K. Hoffm.
  176. Ricinus microcarpus aegypticus Popova
  177. Ricinus microcarpus indostanicus Popova
  178. Ricinus microcarpus Popova
  179. Ricinus microcarpus spontaneus Popova
  180. Ricinus microcarpus var. atrovirens Popova
  181. Ricinus minor Mill.
  182. Ricinus nanus Bald.
  183. Ricinus obermannii Groenl.
  184. Ricinus peltatus Noronha
  185. Ricinus perennis Steud.
  186. Ricinus persicus Popova
  187. Ricinus purpurascens Bertol.
  188. Ricinus ruber Miq.
  189. Ricinus rugosus Mill.
  190. Ricinus rutilans Müll. Arg.
  191. Ricinus sanguineus Groenl.
  192. Ricinus scaber Bertol. Ex Moris
  193. Ricinus speciosus Burm. F.
  194. Ricinus spectabilis Blume
  195. Ricinus tunisensis Desf.
  196. Ricinus undulatus Besser
  197. Ricinus urens Mill.
  198. Ricinus viridis Willd.
  199. Ricinus vulgaris Garsault
  200. Ricinus vulgaris Mill.
  201. Ricinus Zanzibarensis Auct.
  202. Ricinus zanzibarinus Popova

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name . Latest taxonomic scrutiny: Govaerts R., 11-Nov-2003.

Place of publication : Sp. pl. 2:1007. 1753

Name verified on 14-May-1992 by ARS Systematic Botanists. Last updated: 29-Sep-1994.

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Ricinus

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 46 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus:

R. brevicapitis · R. communis (Caster Oil Plant) · R. communis 'Apache' · R. communis 'Cambegensis' · R. communis 'Cambodgensis' · R. communis 'Carmencita' (Red Castor Bean) · R. communis 'Carmencita Bright Red' · R. communis 'Carmencita Pink' (Pink Castor Bean) · R. communis 'Carmencita Red' · R. communis 'Gibsonii' (Castor Bean Plant) · R. communis 'Impala' (Caster Oil Plant) · R. communis L. 'Sanguinea' · R. communis libsonii · R. communis medins (Castor-Oil-Plant) · R. communis minor · R. communis 'New Zealand Purple' (Purple Castor Bean) · R. communis 'Niger' · R. communis 'Raven' · R. communis 'Red Spire' · R. communis 'Sanguineus' · R. communis 'Zanzibarensis' (Caster Oil Plant) · R. communis 'Zanzibariensis' · R. communis 'Zanzi Palm' · R. comunis (Castor Oil Plant) · R. diffusus · R. dolichocephalus · R. elongatus · R. flavicans · R. frenatus · R. fringillae · R. furfuraceus · R. gibbum-impala · R. leptosomus · R. major · R. marginatus · R. morifolius · R. mugimaki · R. odoratus · R. pallens · R. palma · R. polioptilus · R. pulchellus · R. rubeculae · R. serratus · R. subangulatus · R. tinctus

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 14, 2007:

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. "Ricinus communis". in Flora of China Vol. 11 Page 248. Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
  2. Mean = 564.230 meters (1,851.148 feet), Standard Deviation = 894.220 based on 929 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]
Last Revised: 7/1/2009