Castor oil plant
Ricinus communis
family
Euphorbiaceae
origin
Exotic
declaration
Council Pest Vegetation (BCC Natural Asset Local Law)
Council Pest Vegetation (BCC Natural Asset Local Law)
Common names
Castor oil plant, African coffee tree, Castor bean, Castorbean tree, Palma Christi.
A large robust shrub often growing 3 m or more in height. Its thick, hollow, hairless stems bear large leaves up to 70 cm across. These leaves usually have 7-9 finger-like lobes and the leaf stalk is attached to their undersides. Separate male and female flowers are borne in elongated clusters (8-15 cm long), with the reddish female flowers on top and the yellowish male flowers below. Its capsules (10-30 mm across) are greenish to bright red when young and covered in soft, blunt spines.
Impact
Impact
Castor oil plant (Ricinus communis) is regarded as an environmental weed in Queensland, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia and on Christmas Island. It was also recently listed as a priority environmental weed in at least one Natural Resource Management region. The seeds of this species are extremely toxic to humans and livestock.
Location
Location
Characteristics
Characteristics
Similar Species
Similar Species
Castor oil plant (Ricinus communis) is regarded as an environmental weed in Queensland, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia and on Christmas Island. It was also recently listed as a priority environmental weed in at least one Natural Resource Management region. The seeds of this species are extremely toxic to humans and livestock.
