[Illustration: Castor bean, castor oil plant, palma Christi
_Ricinus communis--EUPHORBIACEAE_]
=Description=: There are many varieties of the castor bean plant
growing in gardens and greenhouses. The plant is cultivated
commercially in southern climates for the castor oil produced by the
seeds. It grows to 8 feet or more in height with large showy palm like,
dark green leaves on long stalks.
Flowers are not very attractive but the clusters of soft spiny fruits
which form in late summer and early fall, split open to yield very
attractively marked shiny seeds. These possess variegated white to
brown and black striations and are shaped somewhat like the tick
insect. Because of the attractive appearance, they become playthings
for children.
=Poisonous Parts=: The beans or seeds contain the toxic substances
=ricin= and =ricinine=. =Ricin= is exceedingly poisonous due to its
irritant action which causes nausea, vomiting, intestinal cramps,
stupor, and sometimes convulsions and circulatory collapse several
hours after seeds are ingested. =Ricin= may produce hemolysis.
=Antidote=: Call your doctor. Have patient vomit. Physicians perform
gastric lavage and maintain fluid and electrolyte balance and employ
symptomatic measures.