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(Last Modified On 3/20/2013)
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(Last Modified On 3/20/2013)
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Species
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Ricinus communis L.
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PlaceOfPublication
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Sp. P1. 1007, 1753.
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Description
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Shrub or tree, usually 2-5 m high; twigs (in most varieties) glaucous. Leaves thin, glabrous; petioles 1-2 dm long or more, the gland at apex of petiole on dorsal side of blade, single or sometimes paired, patelliform, dark, subsessile, ca 2-3 mm across; stipules ca 1-1.5 cm long, caducous, leaving a prominent annular scar; blades mostly 7-9-lobed, ca 1 dm across or more (up to 1 m), peltate, the lobes lanceolate, acuminate, pinnately veined, the margins serrate with ? glandular teeth. Panicles terminal, bisexual, the 3-10 lowermost nodes with clusters of several male flowers, the distal nodes female (a few intermediate nodes often hymaphroditic bracts papery, associated with dark patelliform glands. Staminate flowers with articulate pedicels ca 5-15 mm long; calyx-lobes lanceolate, acute, ca 4-9 mm long; androe- cium ca 5-7 mm wide, the anthers 0.3-0.4 mm long. Pistillate flowers with pedi- cels becoming mostly 1.5-3 cm long in fruit; calyx-lobes mostly 5, lanceolate, acute, ca 3-4 mm long, persistent or deciduous; ovary coarsely muricate, the styles bifid or bipartite, reddish, densely papillose, ca 3-4 mm long. Capsules ordinarily echinate, 12-21 mm in diam, the columella wing-dilated distally, ca 1 cm long or more; seeds ellipsoidal, somewhat flattened, diversely mottled, 9-22 mm long, 4.5-9 mm broad.
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Distribution
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Native probably of Africa; cultivated in Panama (as elsewhere in the tropics) and tending to escape in highly disturbed areas.
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Specimen
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COLON: Gatun Lake, Goodyear Estate, Seibert 1521 (MO). LOS SANTOS: Pocri, bridge at Rio Purio, Dwyer 2456A (MO).
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