The flowers are green and inconspicuous, but pink or red in the pigmented varieties. Many stamens are near the base and branching pistils are near the top of the flower. The soft-spined fruits containing attractively mottled seeds are distinctive features of the plant It is grown as an ornamental in gardens, sometimes as a houseplant, and also grows as a weed. The sap-suckers died within 24 hours of feeding. Castor beans are used as an ingredient in some animal feeds after the oil has been extracted or inactivated by heating for 20 minutes at 140oC. Attempts to use castor beans in feed for livestock involve different methods of inactivating ricin while maintaining nutritional value.
Some studies have shown that even afte such heat treatment, toxicity remains.
For example, it was lethal to mallard ducks given the feed. Poisoning of livestock usually occurs by accidental incorporation of castor beans in their feed. Horses are particularly vulnerable. Grounsels Solanum spp. Common Nightshade, Black Nightshade, Horse Nettle, Buffalo Bur, Potato Sorghum spp.