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Ricinus communis
Castor-oil plant
(1 Page of 7)
Cultivation |
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General Info
Medicinal |
Edible Uses |
Flowers & Foliage |
Landscaping
Latin Name: Ricinus communis
Common Name: Castor-oil plant
Family: Euphorbiaceae(Click to Search)
Author: L.
Known Hazards: The whole plant is very poisonous[10, 19, 20], even one seed has been known to be lethal to children[65, 76, 200]. The leaves are only mildly poisonous[76]. The toxic principle is water-soluble so is not found in the oil[76].
Habitat: Not known in a truly wild situation.
Mature Height: 1.5
Mature Width: 1
Habit: Shrub
General Uses: The seed contains 35 - 55% of a drying oil. As well as being used in cooking, it is an ingredient of soaps, polishes, flypapers, paints and varnishes[2, 4, 7, 14, 57]. It is also used as a lubricant and for lighting and as an ingredient in fuels for precision engines[7, 17, 100].
A fibre for making ropes is obtained from the stems[7].
The growing plant is said to repel flies and mosquitoes[7, 14, 18, 20, 171, 201]. When grown in the garden it is said to rid it of moles and nibbling insects[14, 20, 201]. The leaves have insecticidal properties[171].
Cellulose from the stems is used for making cardboard, paper etc[61, 171].
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