castor-oil plant

[ kas-ter-oil, kah-ster- ]

noun

1. a tall plant, Ricinus communis, of the spurge family, cultivated for its ornamental foliage and having poisonous seeds that are the source of castor oil.

castor-oil plant

noun

1. a tall euphorbiaceous Indian plant, Ricinus communis, cultivated in tropical regions for ornament and for its poisonous seeds, from which castor oil is extracted Also called (US and Canadian)castor bean

Word History and Origins

Origin of castor-oil plant¹

First recorded in 1835–45