Ricinus communis

Tokatoka Point, Northland.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 17/07/2006, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>

Ricinus communis.<br>Photographer: Peter J. de Lange, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>

Seedlings, Whanganui. Feb 2013.<br>Photographer: Colin C. Ogle, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>

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Poisonous plant

Common name

castor oil plant

Family

Euphorbiaceae

Authority

Ricinus communis L.

Flora category

Vascular – Exotic

Structural class

Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons

Conservation status

Not applicable

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.

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