Swaziland's Alien Plants Database

Ricinus communis L. EUPHORBIACEAE castor bean, castorbean tree, castor oil bush, castor oil plant, castor oil tree, wonder tree Invasive, Problem species Origin: Tropical East and North Eastern Africa Growth Form: Herb Plant Description: Plant: Annual herb, softly woody shrub or small tree up to 4 m high; sap not milky (as in Jatropha spp.), leaf and flowering stalks often with a grey bloom. Leaves: Shiny, dark green or reddish, paler below, large, up to 300 mm wide, palmately five- to nine-lobed, margins closely serrated, petioles up to 300 mm long. Flowers: Reddish (upper), cream (lower), on stalks up to 150 mm long, August–April (–all year). Fruit: Green, brown or reddish, three-lobed capsules, 10–15 mm long, covered with soft spines; seeds silvery mottled-brown “beans”. Key Features: Control: herbicides and chopping them up Comments: More information: Weeds & Invasive Plants Home Page NRCS Plants Database Illustration USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Photo - fruit/leaves K Braun, Swaziland's Alien Plants Database Photo - plant Rob Mackenzie, Swaziland's Alien Plants Database Photo - flowers/leaves The Weeds Society of Western Australia

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