African Wonder Tree Ricinus communis
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- RISS-ih-nuss kom-YOO-niss
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Castor Bean is cultivated, annual herbaceous ornamental with low drought tolerance. If broken seeds are ingested, it is likely to cause death in humans. It may also be fatal to livestock and pets, but it is not often available to them.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Ricinus'
- 'Ricinus'
- 'Ricinus'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Ricinus'
- 'Ricinus'
- 'Ricinus'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ricinus
- Species:
- communis
- Family:
- Euphorbiaceae
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North East Tropical Africa
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Poisonous
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Large, red, prickly capsule with slightly flattened seeds which are mottled brown-gray-white
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- flowers small and whitish
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves large, alternate, simple, round in outline but deeply and palmately 6-11 lobed
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Red-purplish stems
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-
Landscape:
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- Immediate or delayed nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, weakness, colic, depression, loss of appetite, trembling, sweating, loss of coordination, difficulty breathing, sweating, progressive central nervous system depression and fever, convulsions, coma; may be fatal; severe allergic reaction in certain individuals following skin contact with broken seeds. May also be fatal to livestock and pets.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Ricin, a phytotoxalbumin, plus ricinine, an alkaloid
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Seeds
