Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
RICINUS COMMUNIS
Botanical Name — Ricinus communis L.
Synonyms — Ricinus speciosus Burm., Ricinus viridis Willd.
Family — Euphorboraceae
Common Names — Castor oil plant, Palmer Christi (English), ricin (French)
African Names — Arabic: khirwa; Bambara: tomontigi; Hausa: zurma, kula kula, 'dan kwasare;
Igbo: ogiri, ogiri-ugbo; Swahili: mbono, nyonyo; Yoruba: lapa-lapa-adete, lara, ilara, ilarun
Description — It is a shrub up to 3 m high, branchy at the base. The leaves are alternate,
dark green or red, on long leafstalks, and palmatilobate with 7 dentate glandular lobes. The male
and female flowers are borne separately. The fruits occur as spiny capsules containing 3 arillated
seeds. The African Pharmacopoeia described the seeds as rounded, oblong, and somewhat flat-
tened surface from 8 to 12 mm long, 6 to 9 mm wide, and 4 to 8 mm thick. The seed coat, which
is thin and brittle, is smooth and glossy, varying in color from grayish brown to gray, and mottled
with reddish-brown or black spots and stripes. At one seed extremity there is a prominent and usu-
ally pale-colored caruncle, from which the raphe runs along the ventral surface as a distinct line to
the other extremity, where it terminates in a raised chalaza. The caruncle can be removed easily,
disclosing the hilum beneath as a dark spot. A delicate, silvery white, oily endosperm encloses the
embryo with two large, papery cotyledons. 28
Habitat and Distribution — It is indigenous to the tropical regions of the continent and grows
wild in East Africa but is now pantropic, cultivated for its oil-bearing seeds. The fermented pow-
dered seeds are used by the Igbo people (Nigeria) as a soup flavor. It is best cultivated as an annual
with fresh seeds planted every year.
Ethnomedicinal Uses — The leaf decoction is used as an emmenagogue and as a poultice
applied to a lactating woman's breast to increase milk flow. The crushed leaves are also used as a
hot poultice for application to a guinea worm sore. The oil is used as a purgative but is used only in
traditional veterinary practice as an excellent remedy for gripes in horses. 266
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