Ricinus communis L.
var. communis

1. The plant in Zimbabwe is var. communis, with spiny fruits 1-1.5 cm in diameter. Within the FZ area, two other varieties have been reported: var. megalospermus (Del.) Müll. Arg. with larger fruits (2-2.3 cm in diameter) occurs as a naturalised plant in Zambia and Malawi; var. africanus (Willd.) Müll. Arg. the fruit of which have no spines, is reported as cultivated in Mozambique.
2. Red-leaved cultivars are grown in gardens.
3. Cultivated for its oil, which was historically used as an illuminant and purgative; now used in high-speed aero-engines, soap, paint, varnish, candles, dyeing textiles, preserving leather and waterproofing fabrics.
4. It is a source of the highly toxic 'ricin'.

Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 72 - 73. (Includes a picture).

Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 149. (Includes a picture).

Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 466. As Ricinus communis (Includes a picture).

Curtis, B.A. & Mannheimer, C.A. (2005). Tree Atlas of Namibia National Botanic Research Institute, Windhoek Page 638.

Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 252. As Ricinus communis

Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 127. (Includes a picture).

Mabberley, D.J. (1997). The Plant-Book. 2nd edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge Page 618.

Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 41.

Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 63. (Includes a picture).

Radcliffe-Smith, A. (1996). Euphorbiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(4) Pages 157 - 159. (Includes a picture).

Schmidt, E., Lötter, M. & McCleland, W. (2002). Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park Jacana, Johannesburg, South Africa Pages 294 - 295. as Ricinus communis (Includes a picture).

Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 58. as Ricinus communis

Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 208.

Wild, H. (1955). Common Rhodesian Weeds Government of Rhodesia, Salisbury Page 49. as Ricinus communis (Includes a picture).