Castor Oil Seeds

[Printemps]

If anyone would like to grow this striking annual plant I have a number of seeds to give away to anyone that asks.

It'll easily grow to around 5' in height by the time the first autumn frosts arrive (which will knock it flat!), has huge red/bronze coloured foliage and stems, a most unusual seed head and doesn't need much in the way of attention. They are used extensively in communal planting schemes here in France.

Yes, it is a poisonous plant (Google Georgi Markov in 1978), but no single death has been reported since Markov, who was injected with ricin. Remember too that there are many poisonous plants in and around our own gardens including aubergine, oleander, rhubarb and delphinium. To learn more: Why does Ricin get a bad press? - YouTube

[Davyburns]

I'd Like to try that. I'll pm you

[salome2001]

one seed eaten by a human in error (think small child) can be fatal. I'm not a fan of Ricinis communis, a weed where I come from

[Printemps]

As I mentioned in my initial posting, there are many common garden plants that we plant and cultivate, which are in fact poisonous. However, far more accidental poisonings are attributable to medicines and household cleaning products than garden plants. Interestingly, as the seed pods of the ricinus communis ripen, their external casings become hard and extremely prickly - a natural barrier to any inquisitive child.

Nevertheless it is the responsibility of all gardeners to see that risks to ourselves, fellow gardeners, children and animals, whether by use or storage of tools, chemicals, seeds or plants are minimised through knowledge and common sense.

[Two_Sheds]

no single death has been reported since Markov

one seed eaten by a human in error (think small child) can be fatal.

their external (seed) casings become hard and extremely prickly

I was just reading Is That Cat Dead last night, as part of my "poison plants" research. It's very thorough, and says there were 751 cases of ricin (castor oil seed) poisoning in 85 years, but only 1.9% of these was fatal (Markov). Ricin causes vomiting, which tends to expel the poison, and diarrhoea: it's been used as a laxative and children's tonic since the ancient Egyptians (the author says).

A wife repeatedly fed castor oil seeds to her husband, but he survived.

Foxgloves (leaves brewed into herbal tea or eaten as salad) & daffodils (eaten in mistake for onions) are more harmful.

A very interesting read