Ricinus communis L.

No data

maintenanceAr.Item1 maintenanceAr.Item3

Castor Oil Plant
Castor Bean
Castor Bean Plant
Palm of Christ
African Wonder Tree
Mole Bean Plant

In Omani studies: Miller & Morris (1988) wrote that: "In Dhofar, oil was not made from the seeds for use as a laxative, there being many alternatives readily available. In Dhofar the plant grows near the coast wherever the water table is close to the surface and is thus found in most of the runoffd and flood beds, especially in the coastal plains, although it is also found inland. Its foliage is toxic to livestock, who on occasion eat the fallen leaves in error or browse the live green foliage in years of drought. These can be fatally toxic especially to smaller or younger livestock, but larger animals usually recover. The fallen seeds, or very unripe ones, have been taken in very small doses as an abortifacient in desperation, but this was well recognised as being very risky and dangerous. The wood was considered to be completely useless, in fact ... it was said of anything that was of absolutely no possible use that it was 'axass men elgenegeneh', that is 'even worse than Ricinus communis or Withania somnifera (wood). The plant's toxicity apparently also extends to its flowers: a story is widely told of a group of men who had gathered some wild honey from the cliff face of a ravine whose bed was filled with flowering Ricinus communis plants. It is said that when they sat down to eat what remained after having squeezed out the pure liquid honey into a leather bag (saved for sale or for later consumption), they soon began to hehave in a very odd way, staggering and giggling stupidly and mumbling their words as if drunk. This was ascribed to the effect of the plant from which the bees had made their honey. There are also more sinister tales of parts of the plant having being used by those with supernatural powers to help them in their magic, and potions being made which were taken by such people to give them special powers as well as the sensation of flying (as was the case in the west, where witches were said to anoint themselves with lotions made from plants with known hallucinogenic properties with the same effect). In the north of Oman the roots and fruits were mixed with other ingredients and cooked as a remedy for madness, and the oil was locally applied for protection against the evil eye and jinn, as well as to relieve aching and stiff joints". (Ref. Plants of Dhofar). In addition, Ghazanfar (2007) mentioned that: "Cultivated for the production of castor oil, which is extracted from the seeds. The plant is not commonly used in Dhofar, except for the oil (which is also imported), but in northern Oman the leaves and roots are used for treating bad breath, blisters and ulcers, toothache and inflamed eyes; oil is used as a purgative and for massage to relieve rheumatic pain". (Ref. Flora of Oman, vol. 2). Further, Pickering & Patzelt (2008) stated that: "Cultivated commercially for its oil (from the seeds), which has numerous medicinal and industrial purposes. The seeds contain the poison Ricin which is water soluble and not present in the oil". (Ref. Field Guide to the Wild Plants of Oman; 2008). Furthermore, Patzelt (2015) wrote that: "The leaves are used in northern Oman for treating bad breath, blisters and ulcers, toothaches and inflamed eyes. The oil is used as a purgative and for massage to relieve rheumatic pain". (Ref. Photographic Field Guide to the Plants of the Western Hajar Mountains; 2015).

*Ghazanfar, S. (2007). Flora of the Sultanate of Oman, vol.2: Crassulaceae – Apiaceae. Meise, National Botanic Garden of Belgium (Scripta Botanica Begica, Vol. 36). ISBN 9789072619747 ISSN 0779-2387. *https://en.wikipedia.org *Gledhill, D. (2008). The Names of Plants. Fourth Edition. Cambridge University Press, UK. ISBN 978-0-521-86645-3 ISSN 978-0-521-68553-5. *Miller, A., Morris, M. (1988). Plants of Dhofar, the Southern Region of Oman: Traditional, Economic, and Medicinal Uses. Published by Office of the Adviser for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Sultanate of Oman; ISBN 10: 0715708082 ISSN 13: 9780715708088. *Pickering, H. Patzelt, A. (2008). Field Guide to the Wild Plants of Oman. Kew publishing, Royal Botanic Garden, Kew. ISBN 9781842461778. *Patzelt, A. (2015). Photographic Field Guide to the Plants of the Western Hajar Mountains, Sultanate of Oman: with a complete checklist of vascular plant species. Sultan Qaboos University – Academic Publication and Outreach Department. P.O Pox (17) Postal Code (123), Muscat, ... Al khoudh, Sultanate of Oman. *Patzelt, A. Pysek, P. Pergl, J. Van Kleunen, M. (2022). Alien flora of Oman: invasion status, taxonomic composition, habitats, origin, and pathways of introduction. Doi.org/10.1007/s10530-021-02711-4. *POWO (2023). ""Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org