Ricinus communis seed
LATIN NAME: Ricinus communis
COMMON NAME: Castor Bean
The castor bean is a striking, statuesque plant that demands respect. The bold, fast-growing plant rises on the thick, hollow, bamboo-like stems, carrying the great, glossy, deeply lobed, palmate leaves in the rich greens and the deep bronzes, and the dense, upright clusters of the small, greenish flowers open through the warm season, to be followed by the round, spiny, red or green seed capsules. The handsome, mottled seeds within are among the most toxic seeds known, so the plant is strictly an ornamental, admired from a distance and kept well away from the children and the pets. It is a plant of the open, sunny, fertile, well-drained ground.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The castor bean has carved a strong place in the plant science, and the plant has been studied for a very long time for the rich oil of its seeds and the well-known, potent character of the seed meal. Plant scientists have looked at the chemistry of the seeds, which carry compounds that are among the most toxic known in the plant world, and the plant keeps showing up in the work on the industrial oils and the biochemistry of the seed toxins. The great, glossy, deeply lobed leaves have also made it a fine garden plant, and it is a regular subject of the studies of the striking, fast-growing foliage plants of the warm regions.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
The castor bean earns its keep as a bold, dramatic foliage plant and a source of the fine, industrial oil. The great, glossy, palmate leaves in the rich greens and the bronzes give the plant a striking, tropical look, and the spiny, round seed capsules add their own curious charm. The pressed oil of the seeds has a long record of use in the industrial and the household practice of the world. The seeds themselves are among the most toxic known and must never be eaten, so the plant is best grown as a strict ornamental, admired and kept away from the children and the pets. It has been written up in the horticultural papers for its bold, dramatic leaves, and it is a fine, striking plant of the open, sunny, fertile garden.
The castor bean is one of the boldest of the fast-growing foliage plants, and the great, glossy, deeply lobed, palmate leaves in the rich greens and the deep bronzes give the garden a fine, tropical drama. The spiny, round seed capsules add their own curious charm, though the handsome seeds within are strictly for the eye.
To grow the castor bean from seed, nick the hard, mottled seeds with a file or soak them in warm water for a day, then sow them at a depth of about two centimetres in pots of moist, free-draining soil, keep them in a warm, bright, open spot and water gently. The seedlings push through within a few weeks and grow on fast into bold, statuesque plants. With the sun and the fertile, well-drained ground, keep the seed capsules well away from the little ones and the pets, since the handsome seeds are strictly for the admiring eye.
Usually grown as an annual, the Castor Bean plant may reach 8 feet in height or more by the end of the summer. They will get big!
These unusual deep purple Castor Bean plants have large and attractive deep purple seed pods along with purple leaves and purple stacks – they make a STRIKING hedge or specimen plants.
DESCRIPTION
Castor Beans beautiful patterns and colors (Ricinus Communis), palm of Christ, Wonderboom, Kreuzbaum, castor oil
Have you been searching for a reliable birth control remedy? There is something about castor seeds and birth control that you should know.
You may have heard some stories about how family planning implants fail some women.
People have talked about babies coming out at birth with a ring that was meant to stop the pregnancy.
This situation has created some form of discomfort for some women.
It is especially so when they had hung boots, hoping to just take care of the children they already had.
Interestingly, there are natural ways of preventing pregnancy or family planning as you may chose to refer to it.
Basically, some persons practise withdrawal method while some understudy their ovulation period and their body. But research says 1 in 4 women who practise natural contraceptive get pregnant.
HOW DOES IT WORK ?
Castor bean is used to make castor oil, which is a strong laxative. In pregnancy, castor oil might start labor by stimulating the uterus.
Some women have also inserted natural castor oil into their vagina to reduce fertilisation of the egg by the semen.
HOW TO USE
There are no general recommendation on how to use castor seeds as contraceptive.
However, WebMD reported that “there is some evidence that a single dose of castor seeds with the outer coat removed (hulled) can work as a contraceptive for up to 8-12 months”.
To use castor seeds, they must be hulled, as the shell is said to be poisonous.
Also, a study indicated that castor seeds contain ricin, one of the most toxic substances known.