castor-oil plant, ( Ricinus communis ), large plant of the spurge family ( Euphorbiaceae ), grown commercially for the pharmaceutical and industrial uses of its oil and for use in landscaping. Probably native to tropical Africa, the castor-oil plant has become naturalized throughout warm areas of the world.
Is castor oil a potential oil crop for agribusiness in Africa?
Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis L.): A Potential Oil Crop for Agribusiness in Africa Agriculture is an important sector of African economy that presents tremendous opportunities for the emergence of small and medium scale enterprises.
How big does a castor oil plant get?
Ricinus communis, the castor oil plant, is the sole member of the genus Ricinus and of the subtribe Ricininae. It is a fast-growing, suckering, perennial shrub which can reach the size of a small tree. It grows from 1.8 to five meters (six to 15 feet) tall in one season (Sims and Frey 2005).
Is castor oil a renewable resource?
Castor oil has long been used commercially as a highly renewable resource for the chemical industry. 1, 2 It is a vegetable oil obtained by pressing the seeds of the castor oil plant ( Ricinus communis L.) that is mainly cultivated in Africa, South America, and India. 3, 4 Major castor oil-producing countries include Brazil, China, and India.