What is ricin?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

February 2, 2004

Series: | 1 | | 2 | | 3 | | 4 |

Suggested Reading—>Click here.

Assorted Killer Savings Garden Links—>Click here.

Unique Professionally Designed Gardens—>Click here.

Killer Picks: Castor Bean, Forsythia ‘Kumson’, Early Amethyst Beautyberry—>Click here.

Wine and Roses Weigela, Golden Lights Hardy Azalea, 'Black Beauty' Elderberry—>Click here.

The Palma Christi or castor bean plant (Ricinus communis Linnaeus) has been cultivated for at least 4000 years. It is not a 'bean', but a member of the Euphorbiaceae, the spurge family. The distinctively mottled seeds have a high oil content in the endosperm. Castor 'beans' have been found among grave goods in Egyptian tombs. The oil extracted by crushing the seed was used in oil lamps in Egypt and the Middle East. The oil is as valuable today as in ancient times; it is used in lubricants and various manufacturing processes. ("Castor: Return of an Old Crop", R. D. Brigham, New Crops, Wiley, 1993)

The entire plant, but especially the seed, is the source of the phytotoxin, ricin. The toxin is a two-part protein. According to W.H. Lewis and M.P.F. Elvin-Lewis, phytotoxins "are similar to some bacterial toxins in structure, physiological reaction, and their action as antigens."

Plant of the Week 02/09/2004

Castor Bean Plant (Ricinus communis Linnaeus)

Castor Bean Plant (Ricinus communis)
Plant of the Week 02/09/2004

Ricin fools the cell into allowing it to cross through the cell membrane. Once inside the cell, the protein separates. The phytotoxin shuts down the ability of DNA to manufacture enzymes and other proteins necessary for cell function. The affected cells die. ("Ricin: the Secret Assassin", Martin Westwell, Oxford, 2002)

Symptoms of ricin poisoning vary depending upon dose and whether ricin was inhaled, ingested, or injected. Inhaled, ricin causes cough, chest tightness, edema of the lungs, cyanotic (blue) skin, and failure of the lungs and circulatory system. Ingested, it causes severe diarrhea, nausea, internal bleeding, and liver, kidney, and spleen failure. Injected, the poison is very insidious. It causes high fever and leukocyte count and mimics a systemic bacterial infection. ("Ricin", School of Medicine, Stanford University)

There is no standard treatment for ricin poisoning; medical practitioners can only treat symptoms as they develop. Without diligent care, death happens 36 to 72 hours after poisoning.

Right out of a spy novel is the story of Georgi Markov, a writer killed by ricin assassination. To read "The Umbrella Assassination", the story of Markov's death, click on the link:

http://www.portfolio.mvm.ed.ac.uk/studentwebs/session2/group12/georgie.htm

Series: | 1 | | 2 | | 3 | | 4 |

Unique Professionally Designed Gardens

Springhill Nursery®

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Castor Bean Seed

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

An Excellent Screen!

A fast-growing privacy screen! Castor Bean grows 10-12 feet tall with gigantic veined leaves. Prefers full sun.

Annual flowers are easy to grow, bloom over a long period and allow you to enjoy a whole new look every year. Mass large numbers of them in beds and borders for a stunning color display, or tuck smaller numbers of them into perennial planting that need a little extra pizzazz. [Flower and Grass Seed!]

Comments: Leaves have many colors: green, red, bluish-gray, maroon, purple, and variegated. Leaves are veined with scarlet and measure 3 feet across. Seeds and leaves are poisonous. Likes heat and moisture. In zones 8-10 it acts as a perennial. Soak seeds for 24 hours before sowing. Requires staking in exposed areas. Helps keep moles away. Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys!

Castor Bean Seed

Henry Fields Seed and Nursery®

Deep burgundy leaves up to 2 ft. across!

Grows 10-12 ft. tall, a fine privacy screen.

Many people believe that Castor Beans also repel moles.

Click here - $20 off at Henry Fields Seed and Nursery!

Forsythia ‘Kumson’

Springhill Nursery®

New variation of an old favorite! Traditional striking yellow flowers cover the stems in early spring. But the similarities end there, because this forsythia exhibits rich green leaves with a network of silver veins for a truly unique look and outstanding beauty all summer! 6-8' tall shrubs make a great hedge or specimen.

Forsythia viridissima koreana ‘Kumson’

Zone 5 to 9

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Early Amethyst Beautyberry

Springhill Nursery®

Bold, vibrant beautyberries can dress up your border with a burst of late-season color. Petite pink blooms in early to midsummer are followed by vibrant fruit on the gently arching branches of the Early Amethyst Beautyberry. When the leaves are gone, the berries are featured in gorgeous clusters. No other berries come close to these colors. Cut a few stems and enjoy indoors in cut-flower arrangements.

Shiny purple berries adorn this upright growing shrub that reaches 3-4' tall.

Callicarpa dichotoma

#1 field-grown plant. Deer tend to avoid. Shipped in 4" pot. Zone 5 to 8.

Early Amethyst Beautyberry Ships In The Spring Click here - Save $20 on $50 order

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Wine and Roses Weigela

Springhill Nursery®

Contrasting shades of pinks and purples make this compact shrub a real standout! Foliage intensifies to a rich burgundy purple, accentuated by 1 to 1 1/4" funnelshaped flowers in a vibrant shade of hot pink. Hummingbirds are especially attracted to the blossoms, as are butterflies.

Gorgeous in arrangements to accent your indoor décor. Grows 4-5' tall, with a spread of 3-4'. Shipped in 4" pots. U. S. Pat. No. 10772.

Weigela florida ‘Alexandra’

Zone 4 to 8.

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Golden Lights Hardy Azalea

Springhill Nursery®

The branches of this hardy azalea are covered with large, lightly scented, 1 1/2" yellow blooms for 2-3 weeks beginning in late spring to early summer.

Growing up to 3-5' high and with foliage that changes from deep green in summer to red in fall, this shrub makes an excellent border or addition to a naturalized area.

Rhododendron ‘Golden Lights’

Shipped in 4" pot. Hardiness Zone: 4 - 8 Hardy to -30° F

Golden Lights Hardy Azalea Ships In The Spring Click here - Save $20 on $50 order

Unique Characteristics: Hardy Azalea bred for Northern areas, developed for bud hardiness in Minnesota to survive rough winters and has successfully proven to be hardy. Branches are covered with large yellow bloom trusses each spring that exhibit a light fragrance. Somewhat rounded growth habit.
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'Black Beauty' Elderberry

Springhill Nursery®

Here’s a new cultivar that has it all…flowers, fruit and fragrance!

This dramatically colored Elderberry 'Black Beauty' border shrub remains a deep shade of purple the entire growing season.

Butterflies love the clusters of citrus-scented, pink, star-like blossoms that appear in summer and birds will flock to the equally attractive dark purple berries that follow.

Reaches 8-10' tall and wide. U. S. Pat No. 12305 Sambucus nigra ‘Gerda’ Zone 4 to 8.

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Unique Characteristics: This handsome plant is grown for its foliage, flowers and fruit. A new cultivar with foliage that stays an attractive dark purple to near black all season long. Grow as a shrub or cut back at the end of each season and treat it like a perennial. Butterflies are attracted to the clusters of bright pink blooms with a sweet citrus scent. Fruit is bitter when eaten fresh but can be used to make jellies, syrups and wine. If you choose not to use the fruit, the birds will enjoy them! Flowering Shrubs - Save $20 on $50 order