Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large tropical shrub: The "castor-oil plant" is a fast-growing, large shrub or small tree, originally from Africa and Asia, but now found in tropical regions worldwide. It is characterized by its large, star-shaped (palmate) leaves and spiny seed capsules. Its seeds are the source of castor oil and the highly toxic protein ricin.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The castor-oil plant is often grown for ornamental purposes due to its striking foliage.
  • Farmers were advised to remove the castor-oil plant from their fields as its seeds are poisonous to livestock.
  • Ricinus communis is the scientific name for the castor-oil plant.

Advanced Usage

• Botanical Context: In botanical and agricultural texts, the "castor-oil plant" is frequently discussed for its dual nature as both an economically important oil crop and a hazardous, invasive weed.
  • Despite the toxicity of its raw seeds, the castor-oil plant is cultivated on a large scale for industrial lubricants and pharmaceuticals.

Variants and Related Words

• Castor bean plant: A common alternative name for the "castor-oil plant," referring directly to its seeds.
• Palma Christi: An older, Latin-derived name for the plant, meaning "hand of Christ," likely referring to the shape of its leaves.
• Ricinus communis: The formal botanical (Latin) name for the species.

Synonyms

• Castor bean: While technically referring to the seed, this term is often used interchangeably for the plant itself in non-scientific contexts.

Noun

1. large shrub of tropical Africa and Asia having large palmate leaves and spiny capsules containing seeds that are the source of castor oil and ricin; widely naturalized throughout the tropics