Castor bean, Castor Oil Plant
Ricinus communis
Family: Euphorbiaceae
What it is like
A small evergreen tree. Often they are grown as annual plants. It grows up to about 6 m high and spreads to 2 m across. The stem is erect, stout and branching. The plant can form suckers. It has leaves with pointy lobes spreading out like fingers on a hand. The leaves are large and glossy. The leaves are on long leaf stalks. The flowers are red and large and woolly. Female flowers are at the top and male flowers lower down. Clusters of flowers produce seed capsules containing 3 spiny seeds. Several different cultivated varieties exist which are chosen for their leaf and flower colour.
There is only one Ricinus species. It can be invasive. The poison ricin in the seeds in soluble in water and not in the processed oil.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It occurs throughout the country of Papua New Guinea up to about 2000 m altitude. It does well in humid areas but needs a well drained soil. It is tolerant to drought and light frost. It needs an open sunny position. It suits hardiness zones 9-12. In Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Algeria, American Samoa, Angola, Argentina, Aruba, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Britain, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canary Islands, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Central Asia, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, East Africa (country/location of origin), East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia (country/location of origin), Europe, Fiji, France, Gabon, Ghana, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marquesas, Mauritania, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Rwanda, Sahara, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Helena, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Uruguay, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
People in many Papua New Guinea villages claim to eat the seeds, cooked. Apparently some less poisonous kinds occur. The young leaves are cooked and eaten. The roots are also recorded as eaten raw. CAUTION The plant is normally recorded as deadly poisonous especially seeds, so should never be eaten raw. The poisons are destroyed by heat. An edible oil has been extracted from the plant. This must be refined before use. It is used for adding butter and nut flavours to foods including baked goods. The fruit are used for pickles. In India the young fruit are cooked as a vegetable. Young flowers are cooked as a vegetable.
A moderately common plant reportedly eaten in several places in Papua New Guinea. Normally it is considered very poisonous. It is cultivated.
Edible parts
Leaves, oil, caution, poisonous, root, seeds, flowers
How it is grown
It is grown from seed. Often plants are self sown. Seed should be sown directly where the plants are to grow. Seed should be soaked for 24 hours before sowing.
Plants are fast growing. On poor soils plants produce flowers rather than leaves.
Its other names
Local names
Aamanaka, Ander, Arind, Boliyr, Bonobono, Butsu kasrael, Dan-khra, Dantha, Endaru, Guloo, Higuereta, Higuerilla, Jarak, Khrwia, Kobo, Lumono, Mahung, Mpuluka, Mufuta, Palma cristi, Reri, Ricino, Varenda, Veron, Woalime gol
Synonyms
Ricinus microcarpus Popova; Ricinus megalosperma Delile; Ricinus perennis Steud.; Ricinus purpurascens Bertol.; Ricinus ruber Miq.; Ricinus persicus Popova; Ricinus minor Mill.; Ricinus rugosus Mill.; Ricinus medicus Forssk.; Ricinus medius J. F. Gmel.; Ricinus nanus Bald.; Ricinus peltatus Noronha; Ricinus messeniacus Heldr.; Ricinus metallicus Pax & K. Hoffm.; Ricinus spectabilis Blume; Ricinus zanzibarinus Popova; Ricinus rutilans Müll. Arg.; Ricinus vulgaris Garsault; Ricinus speciosus Burm. f.; Ricinus urens Mill.; Ricinus vulgaris Mill.; Ricinus sanguineus Hort. ex Groenland; Ricinus scaber Bertol.; Ricinus tunisensis Desf.; Ricinus undulatus Besser; Ricinus viridis Willd.; Ricinus macrocarpus Popova; Ricinus inermis Mill.; Ricinus lividus Jacq.; Ricinus laevis DC.; Ricinus leucocarpus Bertol.; Ricinus macrophyllus Bertol.; Ricinus krappa Steud.; Ricinus giganteus Pax & K. Hoffm.; Ricinus glaucus Hoffmanns.; Ricinus hybridus Besser; Ricinus japonicus Thunb.; Croton spinosus L.; Ricinus africanus Mill.; Ricinus badius Rchb.; Ricinus europaeus T. Nees; Ricinus armatus Andr.; Ricinus digitatus Noronha; Ricinus atropurpureus Pax & K. Hoffm.; Ricinus borboniensis Pax & K. Hoffm.; Ricinus cambodgensis Benary; Ricinus angulatus Thunb.;