castor bean

Ricinus communis, a dicot, is a shrub that is not native to California; it was introduced from elsewhere and naturalized in the wild. It’s bloom period is January-December. This plant has known uses according to Wikipedia.

Description   Nomenclature   Medicinal uses   Other uses   Habitat, growth and horticultural uses   Cultivars   Plant-animal interactions   Allergenic potential   Toxicity   Chemistry   Modern commercial usage   Production   Other modern uses   Historical usage

additional informational links: Wikipedia , Calflora 

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