Castor bean, castor oil plant, palma Christi
Ricinus communis—EUPHORBIACEAE
Description: There are many varieties of the castor bean plant growing in gardens and greenhouses. The plant is cultivated commercially in southern climates for the castor oil produced by the seeds. It grows to 8 feet or more in height with large showy palm like, dark green leaves on long stalks.
Flowers are not very attractive but the clusters of soft spiny fruits which form in late summer and early fall, split open to yield very attractively marked shiny seeds. These possess variegated white to brown and black striations and are shaped somewhat like the tick insect. Because of the attractive appearance, they become playthings for children.
Poisonous Parts: The beans or seeds contain the toxic substances ricin and ricinine. Ricin is exceedingly poisonous due to its irritant action which causes nausea, vomiting, intestinal cramps, stupor, and sometimes convulsions and circulatory collapse several hours after seeds are ingested. Ricin may produce hemolysis.
Antidote: Call your doctor. Have patient vomit. Physicians perform gastric lavage and maintain fluid and electrolyte balance and employ symptomatic measures.
CHRISTMAS ROSE
Christmas rose, black hellebore
Helleborus niger—RANUNCULACEAE
Description: In warmer climates, the large blossoms of this plant appear in midwinter, hence, the common name Christmas rose. However, these develop much earlier in fall or later in spring in New England and other northern areas.