Ricinus communis L.
Ricinus
Ricinus communis, commonly known as the castor bean or castor oil plant, is a perennial flowering plant. It is the sole species in the monotypic genus Ricinus and subtribe Ricininae. The plant is known for its highly toxic seeds, which contain ricin and are used to produce castor oil. It is indigenous to the southeastern Mediterranean Basin, East Africa, and India but is widely cultivated in tropical regions. The plant can grow as a small tree or shrub, reaching up to 12 meters in height. Its leaves are glossy, long-stalked, and palmate with deep lobes and coarsely toothed segments. The flowers are unisexual, with male flowers being yellowish-green and female flowers having prominent red stigmas. The fruit is a spiny capsule containing large, oval, shiny seeds.
Details
Malpighiales
Euphorbiaceae
Ricinus
The castor bean plant contains several significant chemical compounds. The seeds are rich in triglycerides, mainly ricinolein, which makes up 40-60% of the seed's oil. The plant also contains ricin, a highly potent water-soluble toxin. Additionally, the aerial parts of Ricinus communis contain terpenoids and tocopherol-related compounds. The root methanol extract has been found to contain triterpenes like lupeol and urs-6-ene-3,16-dione (erandone), which exhibit anti-inflammatory properties.
The castor oil plant has a variety of uses. Castor oil, derived from the seeds, is used in lamps for lighting, as a laxative in traditional medicine, and in modern commercial applications such as lubricants, cosmetics, and biodiesel. The plant is also used in folk medicine for treating various ailments. Historically, it has been used as a purgative and for improving hair growth and texture. The leaves and roots are used in Ayurvedic medicine. Additionally, the plant has been used as an ornamental species and for botanical printing.
Spring to Summer
Spring
Up to 12 meters
Yellowish-green (male), Red stigmas (female)
Tropical regions, can be grown as an ornamental in temperate climates
Info
Pannon Flora Ltd. was founded on December 13, 1999, by Gábor Janik, who retains 95% ownership. Janik holds an MSc in Horticulture from the University of Horticultural Sciences (1986) and an Advanced Professional English Certification from the College of International Trade (1990). The company specializes in bird feed production and export, primarily serving markets in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK, alongside cultivating and distributing imported/exported horticultural seeds. It maintains exclusive partnerships with JOEUN Seed (South Korea) and Takii Europe (Japan), a leader in professional seed breeding and production. Pannon Flora collaborates with certification bodies such as NÉBIH (National Food Chain Safety Office), MERT Kontroll, and SGS Hungary to ensure compliance and quality. The company works with approximately 400 Hungarian growers, ranging from small-scale producers (under 5 hectares) to mid-sized farms and large-scale agricultural enterprises. This profile emphasizes agribusiness expertise, technical partnerships, and operational scalability tailored to international client needs.
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