This is a biennial plant that grows up to 10 m tall. In countries with temperate climates, it is cultivated as an annual plant. In its first year, it grows to 60500 cm tall and perishes during autumn frosts. The root system consists of a welldeveloped taproot that reaches depth of 34 m. Stalk is hollow and branched. Leaves are large, 2540 cm long, peltate, seven or ninebladed, glaberous, lustrous, on a long 2560 cm leaf stalk. Plant is green or redviolet, often with a thin, waxy coating. Inflorescences are racemes 6080 cm long, located on the ends of branches. Male flowers occupy lower part of the raceme; female flowers occupy the upper part; all are apetalous. Fruits are spherical or oblong pods, 23 cm across, usually with prickles, threecelled, with 1 seed in each cell. Seeds are 820 mm across, oval, lustrous, with or without papillashaped excrescence caruncle, gray to dark red with gray or other color mosaic.

Address: 10 Liniya, 33, St. Petersburg, Russia, 199178
Website: http://www.agroatlas.spb.ru/cultural/Ricinus_communis_K_en.htm