Ricinus communis
Poisonous plant
Common name
castor oil plant
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
Habitat
Terrestrial.
Features
Castor oil plant is a small, spreading tree up to 4m tall. The leaves are large, soft and deeply lobed (20-40 cm diam.). The flowers are clustered in heads and the soft spiny capsules contain rectangular seeds up to 15 mm long. (West 1996)
Similar taxa
The NZ plants usually have purple leaves (Landcare Research 1999).
Flowering
December, January, February
Flower colours
Green, Red/Pink
Fruiting
not known
Year naturalised
1864
Origin
Tropical Africa
Reason For Introduction
Ornamental
Poisonous plant:
The mottled seeds are poisonous if eaten.