The intricately mottled seeds have a spongy caruncle at one end. Each seed has a small, spongy caruncle at one end which helps absorb water for germination when planted. Seeds remain viable for years. About half the weight of the seed is a thick, yellowish or almost colorless oil that has been used in many industrial applications. The oil was used in ancient times as fuel for lamps, and is now used in paints and varnishes, for water-resistant coatings, in high-performance motor oils, soap, inks, and plastics.
Other derivatives are used in polishes, as solid lubricants, in synthetic perfumes and other products. Plants are grown commercially for oil production primarily in India and Brazil, but also in some parts of the U. The seeds are extremely poisonous, so keep plants out of reach of children or trim off flowering spike if this is a concern.
The toxin in castor seeds is ricin RYE-sin , one of the deadliest natural poisons, estimated as 6, times more poisonous than cyanide and 12, times more poisonous than rattlesnake venom. As few as four seeds can kill an average-sized adult, while ingestion of lesser amounts will result in vomiting, severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, and convulsions.
Livestock and poultry can also be affected if they consume seeds or meal from the seeds. Although it is a very potent poison, ricin has been investigated as an anti-cancer agent.
Since the toxin does not occur in the pure oil, castor oil can be consumed and has been used medicinally as a remedy for everything from constipation to heartburn.
It is an effective cathartic or purgative laxative and can be used externally as an emollient for dry skin. Castor bean is often grown as an ornamental. When grown as an ornamental, castor bean can be planted directly in the garden in late spring, or started indoors earlier weeks before the average last frost and transplanted outdoors when the weather warms. Nick or scarify the seeds or soak overnight for better germination. Seedlings should start coming up in weeks. The young plants grow quite quickly and may need repotting into larger containers before transplanting outdoors.
Place the plants outdoors in full sun and deep, rich soil about 4 feet apart. Provide plenty of water and fertilizer to achieve the largest size.
Once established it can tolerate drought. Wind can shred the leaves, so they should be placed in a protected spot if possible. Plants can be pruned to limit the size, or may need staking if top heavy; otherwise this plant needs very little maintenance. Castor bean has few pests, although spider mites can sometimes be a problem in hot, dry weather. Ricin glycoprotein is found in highest concentration in the seeds.
The oral lethal dose of castor beans has been determined to be; horses 0. After extraction of the oil, the remaining'cake' once heat-treated is a useful, high protein food source for cattle. Ricin is a highly poisonous compound that can be absorbed from the intestinal tract, and after being metabolized in the liver, it is absorbed into cells where it inhibits ribosomal protein synthesis.
Toxic effects appear within a few hours and is generally fatal. Unless the seeds are well chewed prior to them being swallowed, the toxin will not be available for absorption, and signs of poisoning will be minimal if any.
Birds that eat the seeds will be affected because their muscular stomach grinds the seeds to release the toxins. The leaves of the castor bean plant are also poisonous causing transitory muscle tremors, ataxia, and excessive salivation. Fatalities are rare in animals eating the leaves. Description An annual or short-lived perennial, growing to a small tree in warmer climates.
Leaves are large, alternate, palmate with serrate lobes. New leaves are usually red-purple in color turning green with maturity.
When Carmencita seeds first sprout, the seedlings are initially green, changing color as they mature. Possible leaf colors include green, maroon, brownish-purple, and chocolate brown.
The leaf veins are red or burgundy. The seed pods are generally bright red with the exception being Carmencita Pink, which bears lovely pink pods. Sanguineus castor bean grows from eight to 10 feet in height. This heirloom, large seeded variety has been around since the s. It bears very large, deep red leaves, bronze to blood red stems, and red seed pods. This entire plant is considered poisonous with one of its three poisonous substances being ricin.
Typical symptoms upon consuming the raw seeds are diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In a few cases, victims have suffered kidney or liver problems.
Neurological symptoms can occur when the seed capsules or leaves are eaten. While castor bean oil is nontoxic, the raw seeds are harmful. Children appear to find the large, colorful, attractive, bean-like seeds very tempting. However, few fatalities have been reported, especially since the s. Some deaths of adults were apparently suicides. Eating as little as two seeds can result in poisoning symptoms. George E. Those affected have included poultry, goats, sheep, cattle, pigs, rabbits, horses, and household pets.
Contact with the leaves and seeds can cause a skin rash in some individuals. This can be avoided by wearing long sleeves, pants, and rubber gloves when working around the plants. This plant has been used as a source of insecticide. Despite that, the leaves have been fed to silkworms, which appear to be immune to the toxic substances the plant contains.
The stem pulp has been made into paper. This oil has long been used for medicinal purposes — mainly as a laxative. In addition, it shows up in the manufacture of various products.
These include lubricants, soaps, lamp oil, hair and leather dressings, candles, cosmetics, plastics, textiles, rubber, linoleum, paint, varnishes and other finishes, ink, coolants, oilcloth, ointments, waxes, and polishes.
In some cases, the oil is used as a flavoring for certain foods, such as baked goods, candy, frozen desserts, and drinks. It is also added to butter. In Nigeria, the fermented seeds are eaten cooked in stews and soups. Castor bean has been cultivated since B. The seeds have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs.
The ancient Egyptians used the oil for lamps and for certain medicinal purposes. This species was introduced to Europe around from the East Indies.
This was widely grown in Victorian flower gardens. European colonists brought the seeds to the New World. In the early s, castor bean was widely grown as an oilseed crop in Illinois and Missouri. It yielded 20 bushels of seeds per acre, which resulted in about , gallons of castor oil annually. Connie Krochmal is a plant expert, author and beekeeper living in Louisville, Kentucky. Connie Krochmal. Castor bean blossom. Green castor bean. Red castor bean.
Castor bean ripe fruit. Previous article Bottom Board.
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