Castor bean

Castor bean (Latin: Ricinus) — a monotypic genus of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae ). The only species is castor bean (Ricinus communis L.). The name comes from the resemblance of the plant's seeds to ticks.

The native range of the castor bean is not determined, possibly Africa. It has naturalized throughout the tropical and subtropical zones of both hemispheres, where it grows wild or semi-cultivated. Main centers of cultivation — India, Brazil, Argentina, African countries, China and Iran. In Egypt it has been cultivated for more than four thousand years.

An evergreen shrub up to 10 m tall. Under cultivation in temperate climate countries (Europe) — it is an annual plant up to 2—3 m tall. Stems erect, branched, hollow inside, pink, red, purple or almost black in color, covered with a bluish waxy bloom. Leaves large, 30—80 cm long, deeply lobed, pointed, irregularly toothed, dull green with petioles 20—60 cm long.

Flowers small, light cream or white. Stamens numerous, gathered in branched clusters. They appear in summer in racemose terminal or axillary inflorescences. Castor bean is a monoecious plant: male and female flowers are located on the same plant; male flowers in the upper and female flowers in the lower part of the inflorescence axis. The fruit is a globular smooth or spiny capsule up to 3 cm in diameter. Positioned among the leaves, the fruits give the plant a decorative appearance.

Mature seeds are oval. The seed coat is smooth, glossy, variegated, mosaic-like. Depending on the castor cultivar, the mosaic can be brown, pink, light pink, contrasting against the seed. The background color varies from gray to copper-red.

Castor bean is grown in gardens as a fast-growing ornamental plant. It is good on a lawn when planted singly or in groups (3—5 specimens) without other plants. In mixed groups it does not produce the desired effect. Castor bean can be used to decorate low walls.

Location: requires sunny, warm and moist sites; otherwise it does not reach its proper decorative potential. Does not tolerate frost and prolonged cold.

Soil: prefers areas with deeply cultivated, loose, fertile soil, chernozems. On poor soils it does not have a high decorative effect.

Care: the plant responds very well to nitrogen application before the start of inflorescence formation. Due to its slow initial growth, castor bean is easily overgrown by weeds, but on clean soil seedlings grow well even with limited water.

Propagation: by seeds, which are sown in March into pots or directly into the ground in April-May, 2-3 seeds per hole.