Scientific Name :Ricinus communis Vernacular Name :Ikibonobono Family name :Euphorbiaceae. Geographic Distribution :Cultivated in Rwanda for iits seeds that give an engine oil.
Botanical Description Ricinus communis is an erect annual plant 1-3 m tall. The stem may be green or reddish and have many leaf scars; they become hollow when mature, Leaves also have long hollow stalks and large laminae 10- 75 cm across with 5 – 11 lobes and saw teeth margins. Flowersbunches appear at the top of the plant and consist of unisexual flowers; yellowish male flowers at the base and green, spiny female flowers on top. Fruits are dark brown when ripe and consist of three chambers containingnthree seeds.. The seeds contain 35 -55 per cent oil.
Medicinal Use They extract from the seeds an oil used in pharmacy, toxicology, and in mechanic.The oil from the Seed is purgative. There is also an insecticide extracted from the leaves. THe roots of the plant are chewed in case of infection by “guinea worm”. A decoction from the boiled roots is drunk to stimulate appetite, fro abdominal trouble , or mixed with an other plant for the treatment of venereal diseases. Stems and leaves are pounded and juice drunk for the treatment fot the ulcers, stomach-ache and diarrhea. Young leaves are tied on the wounds to accelerate the healing. The crushed seeds are used to to oopen the bowels as a cure for afterbirth bleeding.
Other Use Agroforestry, pole, for banana support, Ornemental tree.
