Scientific name: Ricinus communis L.
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Synonym: Ricinus japonicus Thunb.
Bengali/Vernacular name: Bherenda, Rerhi, Arenda, Gab-bherenda, Venna.
Tribal name: Rangma-vedul, Lal bherol (Chakma); Batemayna (Hajong); Apow (Khumi); Krachchubaoung (Marma); Theoma (Murang); Corong (Pangkhoa); Letoke (Tripura).
English name: Castor, Castor oil plant.
Description of the plant: An erect single-stemmed or much-branched shrubby or tree-like herb, up to 4 m tall. Stem hollow, becoming woody at the base. Leaves alternate, petiolate, petioles 5-20 cm long, palmately 6-8 lobed, leaf blade lancolate, acuminate to acute, margin coarsely serrate. Flowers in terminal paniculate racemes, pale yellow; male flowers below, female ones above. Fruit a capsule, 3-lobed, prickly.
Plant parts used: Leaf.
Medicinal uses: Decoction of leaves is taken for the treatment of headache.
10 gm leaves of the plant fried with ghee and it is taken for 20 days to treat night blindness.
The fresh juice from the leaves with a some sugar is taken to treat hepatitis.
Paste prepared from leaves of the plant is used as poultice to boils and swellings.
Distribution: In most of the places of Bangladesh in fallow lands and stream banks.
Is this plant misidentified? If yes, please tell us….
