Name
Castor Oil Plant
Latin Name
Ricinus communis
Description
The Castor Oil Plant is a small shrub with waxy stems and large star-shaped leaves and has spiny fruits in an erect spike.
Habitat
This species of plant is an invasive alien from North East Africa and grows along roads and streams in parts of South Africa.
Field Notes
The Castor Oil Plant is a problem where it occurs in South Africa as it competes with indigenous plants for space and nutrients. The plant has toxic qualities that make it even more of a pest.
