Ricinus communis

Ricinus communis

Common Name: castor oil plant

Local Name: अडिर

Classification:

Kingdom: Plantae

Order: Malpighiales

Family : Euphorbiaceae

Genus: Ricinus

Species communis

Distribution:

Ricinus communis is a plant widely distributed mainly in the tropics. The place of origin is the southeastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. However, some researchers agree that it occurred in Asia, particularly India, the region with the greatest variability for R. communis. Still, most researchers agree that the origin of castor beans was geographically restricted to North Africa. It is grown in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. In Europe, it is often used as a houseplant. However, it is an easy plant to establish in arid regions with an annual rainfall of 700-1200 mm.

At altitude, Ricinus communis usually grows in areas between sea level and 2400 meters above sea level. Generally, castor beans grow in areas with temperatures above 20°C, so after flowering they need a period of high temperatures and no rain. From a biodiversity perspective, castor beans grow best in deep, loose, well-drained, moderately to highly fertile soils with a ph range of 5 to 7.

Description:

Ricinus communis vary greatly in growth habits and appearance. Diversity is added by breeders selecting different varieties for leaf and flower color and oil production .A fast-growing shrub, reaching tree sizes as small as 12 meters (39 ft) but it is not durable.  It is a woody herb of the Spurge family Spurge family. It is a highly poisonous plant native to the Old Continent and widely distributed in tropical regions.

 The glossy leaves are 15-45 cm long, long-stalked, alternate, palmate, with 5-12 deep lobes and coarsely toothed. In some cultivars, when young, it begins as a deep reddish-purple or bronze color that gradually changes to dark green, sometimes with a reddish tinge, as it matures. The leaves of some other strains are green almost to begin with, but in others the pigment masks the green color of all chlorophyll-containing parts, leaves, stems, and young fruit, resulting in a dramatic purple to reddish coloration. Leaves brown throughout plant life. Because dark-leafed plants grow together with green-leafed plants, it is likely that some cultivars have only one gene that controls pigment production. It is colored with a pigment. There are some varieties in which the capsules are more conspicuous than the flowers.

 The flowers are petalless and unisexual (male and female), and both species are borne on the same plant (hermaphroditism) with terminal panicle-like inflorescences that are green or, in some cultivars, tinged with red. The male flowers are numerous and yellowish-green with prominent cream-colored stamens. The female flowers at the tip of the spikes are located in immature spiny capsules, are relatively few in number, and have conspicuous red stigmas.

 The fruit is a spiny greenish (to reddish-purple) capsule with large oval, shiny, bean-like, highly poisonous seeds and various brownish speckles. The castor bean has warty-like appendages called nodules, which are a type of elaiosome.

 Uses:

Castor oil has many uses in medical and other uses. An alcoholic extract of the leaves has been shown to protect the liver from damage by certain toxins in laboratory rats.

Castor pericarp showed effects on the central nervous system in mice at low doses. At high doses, mice died immediately. Aqueous extracts of root bark showed analgesic effects in rats. Ethanol extract of castor root bark has been shown to have antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties. Castor oil and the roots and leaves of the plant have been used in Ayurveda, the ancient Indian healing system for a variety of ailments, and some limited research has been done on their potential as antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory herbal medicines. investigated in a study.