Plants and mushrooms

Castor oil plant

Common name		Castor oil plant
Botanical name		Ricinus communis
Other common names		Castor bean, palma christi
Family		Euphorbiaceae
General description		A blue-green fleshy shrub to 3m tall. A common weed in coastal areas and often found growing along creek banks and in disturbed, neglected areas.
Flowers		The flowers, which are about 1cm in diameter, occur on stout erect spikes.
Leaves		The leaves are large, 10–60cm across, and divided into seven to ten lobes. The leaf stalks are centrally attached, long and hollow, and have a whitish bloom. The leaves have a nauseating odour when crushed.
Fruit/Berries		The fruit are soft and spiny, slightly three-lobed and 1.5–2.5cm across. Each lobe contains one shiny mottled grey seed.
Other		The sap is clear.
Symptoms		Ingestion of seeds may cause a burning sensation in the mouth or throat, severe gastro-intestinal irritation with vomiting, diarrhoea and bleeding. Symptoms may be delayed hours to days after ingestion. Liver damage and life threatening poisoning can occur. Respiratory and eye irritation may result from close proximity to the plant, particularly when blooming.
Toxicity category		1, 3, 4
Warning		Seek urgent medical attention if seeds are ingested.