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Euphorbiaceae
Ricinus

not marked as a favorite taxon *Ricinus communis Linnaeus. Common name: Castor-bean, Castor-oil Plant, Palma Christi. Phenology: Jul-Oct (-May). Habitat: Waste places, gardens. Distribution: Native of ne. Africa.

Glossary (beta!)

Origin/Endemic status: Subsaharan Africa

Other Comments: The seeds are dangerously poisonous, formerly the source of an oil used as a purgative and machine lubricant. In FL and farther south in the tropics, R. communis is a small to medium tree.

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, Bah, C, F, Fl2, FNA12, G, Il, K4, Mi, NcTx, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Tx, WH3, Govaerts, Frodin, & Radcliffe-Smith (2000). Basionym: Ricinus communis L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Ricinus communis - FNA12

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: UPL
  • Great Plains: FACU
  • Midwest: FACU
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACU

Heliophily ⓘ: 7

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image #1 of Ricinus communis© Joe MDO, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Joe MDO source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Ricinus communis© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Ricinus communisno rights reserved, uploaded by Arne Holgersson source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Ricinus communisno rights reserved, uploaded by 葉子 source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Ricinus communisno rights reserved, uploaded by 葉子 source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Ricinus communis© Bruce Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Ricinus communis© Bruce Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image #8 of Ricinus communis© Matt Reala, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Matt Reala source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #9 of Ricinus communis© J.W. Hardin | Original Image ⭷
image #10 of Ricinus communis© J.W. Hardin | Original Image ⭷
image #11 of Ricinus communis© gwynmwilliams, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by gwynmwilliams source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image #12 of Ricinus communisno rights reserved, uploaded by 葉子 source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
image #13 of Ricinus communisno rights reserved, uploaded by 葉子 source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
image #14 of Ricinus communisno rights reserved, uploaded by 葉子 source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
image #15 of Ricinus communisno rights reserved, uploaded by Piermario Maculan source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
image #16 of Ricinus communisno rights reserved, uploaded by Piermario Maculan source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
image #17 of Ricinus communisno rights reserved, uploaded by 葉子 source CC0 | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

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native range: Africa



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