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P L A T E CCCCXXX.
R I C I N U S ARMATUS.
FricUy-capsuled Ricinus.
C L A S S XXL ORDER VIIL
MONOECIA MONJDELPHIA. One House. One Brolheihood.
E S S E N T I A L GENERIC CHARACTER.
MAS. Calyx 5-partitus. Corolla 0. Stamina
numerosa.
FEMINA. Cal>'x 3-partitus. Corolla 0. Pistilli
3, bifidi. Capsula 3-locularis. Semen
1.
MALE. Empalement 5-parted. Blossom none
Chives numerous.
FEMALE. Empalement 3-parted. Blossom
none. Pointais 3, 2-cleft. Capsule
3-celled. Seed one.
S P E C I F I C CHARACTER.
RICINUS, foliis peltatis alte palmato-novemfidis
serratis, petiolis glandulosis, capsulis
undique spinis herbaceis.
RICINUS, with leaves peltated deeply palmate-
9-cleft and serrated, with glandulose petioles,
and capsules every where furnished
with herbaceous spines.
R E F E R E N C E TO THE PLATE.
1. A male flower.
2. The male empalement.
3. The pointais.
4. A capsule.
5. A seed.
THE species of Ricinus here depicted, was raised in Lady Holland's garden at Kensington last summer
from seeds sent by her ladyship from Malta, where the plant has been cultivated for medicinal
purposes about four years ; and where it is considered as a new sort. And such indeed it appears to
L for as a species, although it comes extremely near to R. communis, R. inermis, and perhaps R. medicus
of Forskall it appears to be sufficiently distinct ; diflfering from the former and latter, in its deeper
cloven and more nmnerously lobed, and glandular petioled leaves ; and from R. inermis, in having
its capsules thickly beset with considerable, but herbaceous spines; whence om specific name of
a r m a L , in contradistinction also to R. inermis, which has smooth capsules. The pLyit from which
our drawing was taken was eight feet high and very much branched ; and its ample yet elegant fohage,
and red stacks and veins, communicated that kind of appearance to it which is often attributed to
Asiatic plants-stately, and magnificent. Its root is biennial; it requires the protection of the greenhouse
and can be increased very readily by seeds, which should be raised on a hot-ted in spring,
and afterwards transplanted into very large pots. There were two glands at the top of the petóles.
The valuable drug called castor oil is extracted from the seeds of this and other species of Ricinus.
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