Castor Bean Plant

Castor Bean Plant

aka castor oil plant, perennial flowering plant, Euphorbiaceae, Ricinus, ricininae.  Currently being studied. indigenous to Southwestern Mediterranean Basin, Eastern Africa and India.  Widely grown as an ornamental plant.

Castor Bean Plant

I grew it as an ornamental plant when I was an obsessive gardener.

The seed capsules pictured in the first image, ripen into a pod containing three parts.

Castor Bean Plant Seed Pod (FOV 21.3mm)

At some point after the ripening/drying process has completed it pops open releasing three beans, though not true beans.  It is the seed you plant to grow the plant.

Castor Bean (FOV 21.3mm) 

Castor seed is the source of castor oil which was used as a lubricant in model aircraft engines back in the day.

The seed also contains ricin, a water soluble toxin, which is also present in lower concentrations throughout the plant.

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