Ricinus communis, a perennial flowering plant native to East Africa and India, appears innocuous at first glance. The wide-leafed plant’s two-meter stalk bears a large seed, deceptively known as a ...

The former researcher director of a Massachusetts biotechnology firm was indicted on a federal charge Tuesday after allegedly purchasing several hundred castor oil plant seeds online, researching how ...

Of the many plants in my garden, one that I particularly appreciate is the Castor Bean, because of its several interesting characteristics. This plant, known botanically as Ricinus communis, is a ...

Sweltering heat and bright sunlight do not a tropical garden make, even if many common garden plants, from marigolds to okra, do hail from the tropics. That tropical look comes from lush, bold foliage ...

Dr. Ishtiaq Ali Saaem, a research director at a Massachusetts-area biotechnology firm, was arrested for trying to acquire the highly toxic poison ricin. iStockphoto A research director at a ...

Made from ordinary castor beans, ricin can be incredibly dangerous and even deadly -- if milled or processed right. The substance is called “very toxic” by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and ...

Sweltering heat and bright sunlight do not a tropical garden make, even if many common garden plants, from marigolds to okra, do hail from the tropics. That tropical look comes from lush, bold foliage ...

Curious about castor oil packs? We asked health experts what they can (and can’t) do—and how to choose one for safe at-home ...

Sweltering heat and bright sunlight do not a tropical garden make, even if many common garden plants, from marigolds to okra, do hail from the tropics. That tropical look comes from lush, bold foliage ...

Q: A friend of mine gave me some seeds of castor bean. I understand the plant is very poisonous but it is beautiful and I would like to grow it. Someone else told me it might be illegal to grow. Your ...

Sweltering heat and bright sunlight do not a tropical garden make, even if many common garden plants, from marigolds to okra, do hail from the tropics. That tropical look comes from lush, bold foliage ...