Ricinus communis L.
General description:
Ricinus communis L., Sp. Pl.: 1007 (1753). Plate Euph. 8.
English Name: Castor
Arabic Name : Kharwah, Haar
A large shrub or tree-like, 3-8 m tall with hollow stem and pruinose young branches.
Leaves:
with 5-20 cm long petiole; stipules connate, forming on ovate, up to 2 cm long
sheath, caducous, leaving a circular scar; blades 5-11-lobed, c 20-50 cm across,)
glabrous; lobes glandular, serrate, 10-20 x 2-5 cm, lanceolate to ovate. Inflorescence 10-30 cm long; bracts c. 1 cm long; bracteoles smaller.
Flowers
Male flowers: pedicels c. 1 cm long, articulate; calyx c. 2 cm across, connate, lobes 6-8 x 3-4 mm, elliptic-ovate, acute;
stamens: numerous, c. 7 mm long; filaments branched, anthers bithecous.
Female flowers: pedicels 3-5 mm long, accrescent in fruit to 1.5 cm; calyx purplish, sepals c. 5 mm long, lanceolate, acute to acuminate;
ovary:
3-lobed; styles 3, red. Capsule 3-lobed, 1-2 x 0.8-1.5 cm, echinate or sometimes smooth. Seeds greyish, speckled brown, 7-15 x 4-8 mm, shiny; caruncle depressed-conic, 1-2 x 2-3 mm
Diagnostic description:
Ricinus communis L., Sp. Pl.: 1007 (1753). Plate Euph. 8.
English Name: Castor
Arabic Name : Kharwah, Haar
A large shrub or tree-like, 3-8 m tall with hollow stem and pruinose young branches. Leaves with 5-20 cm long petiole; stipules connate, forming on ovate, up to 2 cm long sheath, caducous, leaving a circular scar; blades 5-11-lobed, c 20-50 cm across, glabrous; lobes glandular, serrate, 10-20 x 2-5 cm, lanceolate to ovate. Inflorescence 10-30 cm long; bracts c. 1 cm long; bracteoles smaller. Male flowers: pedicels c. 1 cm long, articulate; calyx c. 2 cm across, connate, lobes 6-8 x 3-4 mm, elliptic-ovate, acute; stamens numerous, c. 7 mm long; filaments branched, anthers bithecous. Female flowers: pedicels 3-5 mm long, accrescent in fruit to 1.5 cm; calyx purplish, sepals c. 5 mm long, lanceolate, acute to acuminate; ovary 3-lobed; styles 3, red. Capsule 3-lobed, 1-2 x 0.8-1.5 cm, echinate or sometimes smooth. Seeds greyish, speckled brown, 7-15 x 4-8 mm, shiny; caruncle depressed-conic, 1-2 x 2-3 mm
Taxonomic name: