- Protologue : Sp. Pl. 2: 1007 (1753)
Ecology and Distribution :
- Tropical AfricaBiology :Varying from ephemeral less than 1 m tall to tree-like herb 5-7(-10) m, with trunk 10-15 cm Ø; stems hollow.Ecology :In Somalia and Ethiopia common along seasonally dry rivers; also a widespread ruderal, often in urban areas; 0-2500 m alt. As many as 100 infraspecific taxa have been recognized but they are too illdefined. - Three varieties are recognized in Fl. Zambes. 9/4: 157-159, 1996. Fossil evidence has shown this species to be native in NE Africa; now cultivated and escaped throughout the tropics and warm temperate regions. The plant contains a very dangerous toxin. - Not mapped.
Bibliography27
BATTANDIER, J.A & L.C. TRABUT (1890). Flore de l'Algérie [Dicot] - : 806 — under: Ricinus communis var. africanus (Mill.) Müll.Arg. DUCELLIER, L. & R. MAIRE (1923). Végétaux adventices observés dans l'Afrique du Nord. - Bull. Soc. Hist. Nat. Afrique N. 14: 304-325 — under: Ricinus communis var. africanus (Mill.) Müll.Arg. Prodr. Fl. Ciren. : 305 (1931). PAMPANINI, R. (1931). Prodromo della Flora Cirenaica. - : 306 — under: Ricinus communis var. lividus (Jacq.) Müll.Arg. Cat. Pl. Maroc 2: 460 (1932). Étud. Fl. Vég. Sahara Cental (1933) Fl. Mamora [Métro & Sauvage] : 326 (1955). Fl. Algérie [Quézel & Santa] 2: 596 (1963). Fl. Eur. 2: 213 (1968). Cat. Pl. Niger 143 (1976) Fl. Tunisie [Pottier-Alapetite] 1: 467 (1979). Fl. Sahara (ed. 2) : 332 (1983). Cat. Pl. Mali 113 (1986) Med-Checklist 3: 224 (1986). Fl. Andaluc. Occ. 2: 238 (1987). Fl. Mauritanie : 185 (1991). Fl. Egypt (Boulos) 2: 44 (2000). Le Hoggar, promenade botanique 120 (2004) Trav. Inst. Sci. Univ. Mohammed V, Sér. Bot. 37: 182 (2005) Fl. Prat. Maroc 2: 213 (2007). BORGES P.A.V., C. ABREU & AL. (2008). A list of the terrestrial fungi, flora and fauna of Madeira and Selvagens archipelagos.. 195 Fl. Tunisie (Le Floc'h & Boulos) : 183 (2008). Cat. Pl. Vasc. Burkina Faso:209 (2012) Pl. Sudan Checklist 222 (2015) Flore ill. Tchad 419 (2019) Phytotaxa 509(1): 12 (2021) Fl. ill. Burkina Faso & Mali: 585 (2024)
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Last update : 2022.07.05