Ricinus communis is an annual or perennial herb of Ricinus of Euphorbiaceae, a perennial shrub or small tree in tropical or southern regions. Simple leaves alternate and peltate. Palmately divided into leaves less than half, panicles opposite to leaves, terminal, male flowers in the lower half, female flowers in the upper half; Petals are monoecious and have no petals; Stamens are numerous, filaments are much branched; Style, deep red. Capsule spherical, with soft spines, cracking at maturity. The flowering period is May-August, and the fruiting period is 7-65438+1October.

Annual stout herbs or herbaceous shrubs, up to 5 meters high; Branchlets, leaves and inflorescences are usually frosty and the stems are juicy.

The outline of the blade is nearly round, the length and width can reach more than 40 cm, and it is palmately 7- 1 1, and the crack is almost in the middle. Lobes are elliptic or lanceolate, with sharp or acuminate tips and serrated edges. The reticular vein is obvious; The petiole is thick and hollow, up to 40 cm long, with two discoid glands at the top and discoid glands at the base; Stipules are in the shape of the Yangtze River Delta, 2-3 cm long, and fall early.

Racemes or panicles, 15-30 cm or longer; Bracts broadly triangular, membranous, caducous; Male flowers: calyx lobes ovate-triangular, 7- 10 mm long; Stamen bundles are many; Female flower: Sepals ovate-lanceolate, 5-8 mm long, withered; Ovary ovoid, about 5 mm in diameter, densely spiny or spineless, red style, about 4 mm long, 2-lobed at the top, densely papillae.

Capsule ovoid or nearly spherical, long 1.5-2.5 cm, soft or smooth peel; Seeds oval, slightly flat, 8- 18 mm long, smooth, with light brown or grayish white spots; The seed pile is very big. The flowering period is several years or from June to September (cultivation).