Castor Bean

Castor Bean, also castor-oil plant, common name for a plant of the spurge family. Native to tropical Africa, where it grows to 12 m (40 ft) or more, it is widely planted in temperate areas as an annual ornamental for its large, lobed, fanlike leaves. It rarely exceeds 4.5 m (15 ft) in height in cooler climates. The bean-shaped seeds, castor beans, contain the castor oil of commerce; in Brazil, India, and Thailand the plant is an important crop. The orange flowers are without petals and are clustered in long panicles; the fruit is covered with soft, orange-brown spines. All parts of the plant are poisonous to humans and animals; the seeds are extremely poisonous.

Scientific classification: The castor bean plant belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. It is classified as Ricinus communis.