This tall annual from North Africa ("castor bean") has been widely cultivated since the 1800s (Gm), for ornament, medicine or poison; its seeds are highly toxic. Plants often reseed into gardens or nearby, but do not persist or spread into the wild. R. communis is an extraordinary monotypic species that is one of the tallest known herbaceous plants, potentially reaching 5-6 m after a few months of cultivation (G. Nesom, pers. comm.). In warmer regions it can become perennial, woody and taller. Its seeds are famous for their traditional extract, "castor oil" (a powerful laxative), and the toxic lectin "ricin"; a few seeds can sicken or kill an adult human (Olsnes et al. 1974).