Ricinus communis (Castor Oil Plant)

Ricinus communis, the castor oil plant, is a shrub or small tree native to northeastern tropical Africa. It has hollow stems and deeply lobed leaves with toothed margins. Separate male and female flowers develop on the same plant, followed by three-lobed capsules that are usually softly spiny. The shiny, mottled seeds contain the poisonous protein ricin. The species is cultivated for castor oil and has naturalized widely in warm regions. Photographed in Colombia.