Fruit a drupe or berry. Little economic importance, mostly as ornamentals. Riccinus A pantropical family of 300 genera and 750 species, sparingly represented in temperate areas. Leaves opposite, alternate or whorled, simple, stipulate. Plants monoecious or dioecious.
Flowers imperfect, regular or naked.
Sepals 0-8, commonly 5, distinct or connate. Petals 0, or 4-6, distinct or basally connate, free or adnate at the base to the stamens. Stamens 1-many, distinct or variously connate. Fruit a schizocarpic capsule, drupe, berry, legume-like pod or samara. Various economic uses are present in the Euphorbiaceae.