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I grow Castor bean plants (Ricinus communis) every summer. We don't have a particularly long growing season in Ohio and I've just got too much going on to start them early in the house. So I don't get them too big and they don't often fruit. It's hard to get the seeds nowadays because not only does it have industrial uses as well as being the source of Castor Oil, it is also the source of Ricin, a known bio-terror "substance of interest". That is, terrorists are known to seek it. If I'm in New Orleans late in the year, I stop by and collect seeds from the plant above. Then I shuck them in the car on the way home. I have scores of them presently. Now to subscribe to "Soldier of Fortune" magazine and Ted Kaczynski's mailing list. THAT will get an unmarked van parked across the street from my house in a hurry.
I bought my first house on the coast of California. It is a chilly foggy climate with sandy soil and not much growing once the winter rain ends, but on the south side of the house right against the foundation, a "weed" sprouted, and before I could pull it, it produced a beautiful castor bean leaf. I decided to leave it alone, and although it got very little water and limited sunlight, it is now in November about a meter tall, and although not a "spectacular" plant, I decided to google it tonight, guessing that it is a castor bean plant. It is unlikely to freeze here, so I am curious whether it will flower and reproduce. I can't say I have ever seen one before, so thank you for sharing this blog entry. I will definitely have to watch for these in the area. It's sad that they are verboten. The flowers are stunning. -Kurt
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