Saturday, 11 January 2014

Ricinis communis

Ricinis communis Castor oil plant

Ricino
This shrub can grow between 2-5metres tall and flowers from April to January. It is not frost hardy and can be knocked back to the ground, to re-shoot again in the spring. It's seeds are the source of Castor oil, which has many uses, but they also contain Ricin (a toxin). It is said that 4-8 beans are lethal in humans. It was originally native to the Mediterranean basin, East Africa and India. It is now found all over the world in tropical regions.

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