T.Colwell

GOOD

A plant that greatly helps human kind in general is the Castor plant or Ricnus
communis. This plant belongs to the phylum’s Angiosperm and Magnoliophyta, it
is found in the tropics of East Africa. The Castor plant likes hot dry soil, so
it thrives in the tropics of Africa. It is a medium height, fruit bearing plant
with eight points on its leaves. The Castor plant reproduces through pollination.
Unlike some, it has a male and female flower on the same plant and can
reproduce on its own. The seeds or Castor beans, produced through reproduction,
are enclosed in a light-green, spiked case or shell. When the shell dries out
it, splits into three parts and the bean then falls out.

The plant also produces Castor oil on the leaves. This oil is very useful to
humans; we use it in art supplies, clothing material, and even for vehicles.
The first use of the oil was in oil paints. The pigments were mixed with Castor
oil and it creates a waxy or shiny color. Second, we use Castor oil in the
production of nylon. The Sebacic acid is one of the most basic ingredients in
the nylons production. Third, the Ricin in small enough quantities is known to
kill viruses that cause gastrointestinal problems. Fourth, and probably the
most important use, is in motor oil. This oil is a great lubricant even at very
high temperatures. It is also where they got the name "Castrol" motor
oil.

Ten percent of the feed for hogs, sheep, and horses is made of the Castor bean. The
bean is boiled at a temperature of 140 degrees for twenty minutes to inactivate
the toxic protein Ricin.

There is however some very poisonous parts of this plant as well. The oil can be
toxic if ingested, along with the beans. The toxic protein, Ricin, is the cause
of this. It is found traveling through the plant in the phloem. Scientists
found this out in January of 1970, when almost 10,000 Mallard ducks were found
dead due to the ingestion of the Castor beans. There was also a massive
decrease in insect population due to the oil on the leaves of the Castor plant.
It is also toxic to humans, in 1978 Bulgarian journalist, Georgi Markov, was
assassinated for speaking out against the Bulgarian Government. He was stabbed
in the leg by the hollowed out point of an umbrella, which had a pellet filled
with the Ricin toxin from the Castor plant.

Most of the adaptations to this plant have been induced by humans. One, a higher
production of oil; and two a shatter proof shell. The higher oil production is
very useful for the increasing dependence on vehicles. While the shatter proof
shell allows the bean to continue growing even after it falls from the plant,
and also provides protection during the harvest of the fruit.

BAD

The African Milk plant, Euphorbia lactea in the phylum Magnoliophyta, is a highly toxic plant
found in the tropical parts of Asia, the West Indies, and Florida. The African
Milk plant grows well in dry and porous soil, much like the loam and sand of
the desert wastelands. It is nick-named the Candelabra plant, due to the
structure of the "branches" or "arms". Some other names for
it are Dragon Bones (tree), Caper Spurge, and Candle-stick tree. Due to
hybreading, there is also a Ghost form of this plant, which would burn and wilt
if it was in the direct sunlight of the tropics. This plant is very tall,
resembleing a cactus, a dark-green in color, with many branches. The cactus has
three sides and a white milky liquid inside. All of this plant is poisonous.
The "milk" flows through the entire plant distributing nutrients
throughout, this is where the toxin, Diterpene, comes from. It may cause
nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea if ingested; and redness, swelling, or blisters
if it contacts the skin. It can also cause blindness if it gets in the eyes.

The best way to reproduce this plant is through grafting. This is what causes all the hybrids;
it also explains why the cactus has such a slow growth rate. There are too many
hybrids to definitely know which one you have, just by looking. The three most
common hybrids are the; E. lactea "ghost", that have nearly white
stems. The E. lactea "giant" with a much larger stem, E. lactea
"crest", which comes with many different colored forms, and the
original E. lactea that stands around four and a half meters tall and is a dark
green color.
Even with all the
toxins running through it, it does still have some uses to help human life. The
African Milk plant fights of warts and tumors if placed directly on the source.

Cites

"Castor Bean (Ricinus Communis)." BioWeb
Home. Web. 13 Feb. 2012.
.
Fats?, Eating Saturated. "Castor Bean
Plant." WAYNE'S WORD. Web. 13 Feb. 2012.
.
"Poisonous Plants: Euphorbia Lactea." North
Carolina Cooperative Extension: Home. Web. 13 Feb. 2012.
.

pics
"Euphorbia Lactea." Cactuspedia.
Web. 13 Feb. 2012. .
"Castorbean." Department of Animal
Science - Cornell University. Web. 13 Feb. 2012. .