castor-oil plant

American  

[kas-ter-oil, kah-ster-] / ˈkæs tərˈɔɪl, ˈkɑ stər- /

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.

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castor-oil plant British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of castor-oil plant

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

castor-oil plant

The castor-oil plant has been introduced, but as yet the unprofitable silk-tree and the wild bushes are far more common.

From Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 428 Volume 17, New Series, March 13, 1852 by Chambers, William

The chief vegetable purgatives are aloes, colocynth, gamboge, jalap, scammony, seeds of castor-oil plant, croton-oil, elaterium, the hellebores, and colchicum.

From Aids to Forensic Medicine and Toxicology by Robertson, W. G. Aitchison (William George Aitchison )

Among totemistic names are Baghela, tiger, also the name of a Rājpūt sept; Kutria, a dog; Khajūria, the date-palm tree; Mirchaunia, chillies; Andwār, from the castor-oil plant; Bhainsaiya, a buffalo; and Nāk, the nose.

From The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India - Volume IV of IV Kumhar-Yemkala by Russell, R. V. (Robert Vane)

Very singular are the seeds that have come to resemble beetles; among these may be mentioned the seeds of the castor-oil plant and of the Iatropha.

From Little Masterpieces of Science: The Naturalist as Interpreter and Seer by Iles, George

The castor-oil plant is a green and succulent shoot about six feet in height, with white flowers hanging in bunches like hops.

From Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science Volume 15, No. 89, May, 1875 by Various