4424.000 Ricinus L.

Monoecious, glabrous, annual or perennial, herb, shrub or even small tree. Stipules united to form a caducous sheath. Leaves alternate; petiole with glands at base and apex; lamina peltate, palmately-lobed, the lobes glandular-serrate. Inflorescences paniculate; male flowers in lower half, female in upper. Male flowers: pedicels jointed, with 2 bracteoles; calyx with 3-5 valvate lobes; petals and disk 0; stamens numerous; pistillode 0. Female flowers: pedicels elongating in fruit; sepals 5; petals and disk as for male; ovary 3-locular; ovules 1 per loculus; styles 3, dark red. Fruit 3-lobed, smooth or echinate with accrescent spines, dehiscing into three 2-valved cocci leaving a prominent, persistent columella. Seeds smooth, mottled.

Derivation of name: from Latin ricinus meaning bug or tick, referring to the seeds

Worldwide: 1 species in East and Northeast Africa and Middle East, naturalised throughout the tropics

Zimbabwe: 1 cultivated taxon.