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Castor oil plant

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Castor oil plant
Castor bean
Scientific classification
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Subtribe:
Ricininae
Genus:
Ricinus
Species:
R. communis
Binomial name
Ricinus communis

The castor oil plant (Ricinus communis), is a plant species of the Euphorbiaceae, the sole member of the genus Ricinus and of the subtribe Ricininae. Its seed is the castor bean which is not a true bean. The castor oil plant is used as an ornamental plant in gardens and to create Castor oil. Its oil is used in the chemical industry, e.g. for polyurethane, for adhesives, dyes and lubricants. As a drug, it can be used as a laxative.