Ricinus is a monotypic genus of the Malpighiales order. It belongs to the flowering plants of Euphorbiaceae family of the plant kingdom. It centres its diversity in south-eastern Mediterranean Basin, Eastern Africa, and India. This plant was name ‘ricinus’— Latin word which means ‘tick’, because at the end of its seed are marks and bumps resembling ticks. Ricinus is also popularly known as Palma Christi because of its ability to cure ailments and heal wounds.
Ricinus is characterised a perennial plant, which means that it has an indefinite life-span. It can grow up to 90 cm to 1.8 m high. It yields glossy leaves of 15–45 cm long. The leaves have large lobes, palmate and alternate, with coarsely toothed segments in red, bronze, green or purple colours. The plant blooms in early summer. The male flowers have prominent creamy stamens with yellowish-green petals. In the stamen are ovoid-shaped spikes that measures up to 15 cm. At its tip, the female flowers flourish which have prominent red stigmas. If you like colourful shapes and designs, Bespoke Usb offer a wide range of usb sticks with free printing available.
This plant is the source of castor oil which has numerous uses. Its use was established way back 4000 BC, and it was believed that Cleopatra used castor oil to brighten the whites of her eyes. Greeks also noted that this can be used to improve hair growth and texture. In India, it is being considered as the king of healing for curing arthritic diseases, and is also used as laxative to stimulate evacuation of faeces. In the reign of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, castor oil was used as an instrument for coercion for regime opponents. Ingestion of large amount triggers severe dehydration, which can ultimately cause death.
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