Castor bean, castor-oil plant, palma Christi

Castor bean, castor-oil plant, palma Christi Ricinus communis Spurge (Euphorbiaceae) Family

Description: The castor bean is a semiwoody plant with large, alternate, starlike leaves that grows as a tree in tropical regions and as an annual in temperate regions. Its flowers are very small and inconspicuous. Its fruits grow in clusters at the tops of the plants.

CAUTION All parts of the plant are very poisonous to eat. The seeds are large and may be mistaken for a beanlike food.

Habitat and Distribution: This plant is found in all tropical regions and has been introduced to temperate regions.

For information on a specific poisonous plant, click on one of the links below:

- Castor bean, castor-oil plant, palma Christi   - Chinaberry   - Cowhage, cowage, cowitch   - Death camas, death lily   - Lantana   - Manchineel   - Oleander   - Pangi   - Physic nut   - Poison hemlock, fool's parsley   - Poison ivy and poison oak   - Poison sumac   - Rosary pea or crab's eyes   - Strychnine tree   - Trumpet vine or trumpet creeper   - Water hemlock or spotted cowbane