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castor bean

Ricinus communis L.

Family: Euphorbiaceae · Genus: Ricinus

castor oil plant

Placenta II Emergent Mulch biomass 🪓 Coppices after cutting
no rights reserved · CC0 · iNaturalist

Annual or short-lived perennial shrub/small tree, a high-yielding oilseed crop. EcoAgri lists it in the emergent stratum of the 'up to 3 years' bin. Seeds are toxic (ricin); the oil is an industrial feedstock and biodiesel source. Extremely fast growth.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Placenta II
Ecological role
Pioneer
Primary stratum
Emergent
Strata
Emergent, High
Biomass class
Mulch biomass

Environment

Light requirement
Full sun
Water requirement
Low
Drought tolerance
High
Waterlogging tolerance
Low
Soil pH range
6–7.3
Preferred soil texture
Clayey, Loamy, Sandy
Hardiness zones
9–11

Morphology

Mature height
2–5 m
Root system
Taproot
Root depth
Deep
Growth rate
Very fast
Lifespan
≤ 3 years
Time to first harvest
4 months

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Castor bean takes the Emergent stratum in the Placenta II phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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Emergent · ≈5 m High Medium Low Ground cover

🪴 Cultivation

Annual in temperate climates and perennial in the tropics, where tall semi-perennial types last 3–5 years in N and NE Brazil. Prefers fertile, well-drained, moisture-retentive soils (clayey or sandy loam), with optimal rainfall of 600–700 mm. Deep taproot with well-developed lateral roots that aerate the soil and recycle subsoil nutrients.

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of castor bean?

The first harvest of castor bean comes around 4 months after planting.

How tall does castor bean grow?

At maturity, castor bean reaches 2–5 m tall.

What stage and stratum does castor bean occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, castor bean belongs to the placenta ii stage, occupying the emergent stratum.

Functions

Oil seed 🌿 Biomass producer Medicinal

Propagation

Seed

Citations

  1. EcoAgri — Organização de algumas espécies vegetais por tempo de vida (placentas) e estrato (Cartilha 'Liberdade e Vida com Agrofloresta') , p. 2 (primary_stratum, gotsch_stage)
  2. Feedipedia — Castor bean (Ricinus communis) forage (height_max_m, root_system, root_depth, ph_min, ph_max, soil_texture_preference, cultivation_notes)
  3. PFAF Plant Database — Ricinus communis (light_need, hardiness_zone_min, hardiness_zone_max, growth_rate, time_to_first_harvest_months, propagation)
  4. Embrapa Ageitec — Mamona: características da planta (root_system, root_depth, cultivation_notes, lifespan_years_max)

External references

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