Castor Bean Plant

Also known as: Castor Oil Plant, Mole Bean Plant, African Wonder Tree, Castor Bean

Clinical Signs

Beans are very toxic: oral irritation, burning of mouth and throat, increase in thirst, vomiting, diarrhea, kidney failure, convulsions. Access to ornamental plants or pruned foliage most common in poisonings. Ricin is a highly toxic component that inhibits protein synthesis; ingestion of as little as one ounce of seeds can be lethal. Signs typically develop 12 to 48 hours after ingestion, and include loss of appetite, excessive thirst, weakness, colic, trembling, sweating, loss of coordination, difficulty breathing, progressive central nervous system depression, and fever. As syndrome progresses, bloody diarrhea may occur, and convulsions and coma can precede death.

Family

Euphorbiaceae

Scientific Name

Ricinus communis

Toxic Principles

Ricin

Source: ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants list (dogs), scraped 2026-07-14 from https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/dogs-plant-list · view original