Ricinus communis

Common name: Castor Oil Plant

Meaning of name:

Ricinus was the name used by Pliny for the Castor Oil Plant. Communis is a Latin word meaning common or ordinary.

Distribution:

Found on disturbed areas throughout Australia.

Description:

A shrub to 5 metres high. The female flowers are red, the male flowers are yellow.

Notes:

The seeds of this plant are poisonous.

This species is originally from Asia and tropical Africa.

References:

Western Weeds, A Guide to the Weeds of Western Australia. BMJ Hussey, GJ Keighery, J Dodd, SG Lloyd, RD Cousens. 1997.

Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings, a Glossary. FA Sharr. Third edition 2019.

Flora of the Perth Region. NG Marchant, JR Wheeler, BL Rye, EM Bennett, NS Lander, TD Macfarlane. 1987.