Fig-leaf gourd
Cucurbits have tendrils and hairy leaves.
Use the botanical sourceToxic · do not eat
Castor bean.
Ricinus communis
Also found as Castor oil plant
A tall tropical shrub with large palmate leaves and spiny seed pods holding mottled seeds that contain ricin.
Sources checked 27 September 2026 · Specialist field review pending
Toxic. Keep out of food and tea.
Poison help Seeds contain ricin; chewing even a few can be fatal. Keep seeds away from children and pets.
Where it grows
Tracked records and known growing zone
- Verified records
- 50,441
- People who recorded it
- 23,934
- Most records (northern hemisphere)
- Jan, Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Records span
- 1980–2026
| January | 2979 |
|---|---|
| February | 2852 |
| March | 3467 |
| April | 6600 |
| May | 3925 |
| June | 2698 |
| July | 2700 |
| August | 2566 |
| September | 2887 |
| October | 3459 |
| November | 2862 |
| December | 2632 |
| January | 702 |
|---|---|
| February | 669 |
| March | 733 |
| April | 2084 |
| May | 1288 |
| June | 822 |
| July | 842 |
| August | 731 |
| September | 783 |
| October | 807 |
| November | 757 |
| December | 596 |
Research-grade iNaturalist records, snapshot Aug 27, 2026. The growing zone combines areas where different people have repeatedly verified it. Records show where people looked and found it, not current abundance or permission to gather.
01 / Learn to see
Field marks
- 01
Large, glossy, palmate leaves with five to eleven toothed lobes, often red-tinged.
- 02
Clusters of red, spiny seed capsules.
- 03
Mottled, bean-like seeds.
These are study prompts, not a complete identification key. Confirm the full plant with a regional flora and an experienced local identifier.
02 / Resolve the differences
Look closely. Compare.
Japanese aralia
Fatsia japonica has similar palmate leaves but black berry clusters.
Use the botanical sourceSelected comparisons only. Other lookalikes may occur locally.
03 / Meet the place
Habitat & season
Range context
Native to northeastern Africa; cultivated and naturalized in warm regions worldwide.
Watch the plant stage
Hazard exists at every growth stage.
Stage guidance is not a local forecast. Check your climate, elevation and a regional source; no month-shift formula is used here.
04 / Gather with care
Observe. Leave intact.
Do not eat, brew, taste or collect for the pantry.
Care for the patch
Remove seed heads from gardens used by children.
Preparation & storage essentials05 / Follow the evidence
Sources & review
- Wikipedia · Ricinus communisBotanical description, range and documented use
- iNaturalist · Ricinus communisTaxonomy and verified observation records
Checked 27 September 2026. Original editorial synthesis; source institutions have not reviewed or endorsed this guide. Independent botanical field review is pending. Photos illustrate specimens; they do not certify the identity of a plant you find.
Suggest a correction