Castor-oil-plants
What are they?
The Castor-oil-plant is a unique species, the only member of the genus Ricinus in the Spurge family (Euphorbiaceae).
Where are they found?
This species is not frost-hardy and is grown as a summer ornamental. As such, it is unlikely to become established outside of cultivation here and is most likely to be found in more formal amenity plantings or where surviving for a short time when garden waste is dumped.
Identification
The large, somewhat leathery, maple-like leaves make the plant quite distinctive, especially so when the upright flower spikes are present.
Castor-oil-plant Ricinus communis
Introduced from North-east Africa as a tender ornamental. Flowers July onwards but typically produced only in prolonged periods of warm weather. May grow to around two metres in height, either as a single stem or branching with age. Leaves large, up to 60cm across. Flowers in a many-flowered spike, with male flwers towards the base and female flowers above. Female flowers are petalless, with a cluser of three red styles protruding from a spiny receptacle. After fertilisation, the developing fruits change from green to red and eventually brown as they stiffen and split open.
Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, the seeds of Castor-oil-plant are the source of both the multi-use Castor Oil and the highly toxic ricin, used as a poisoning agent.
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