Castor Bean removal in Agua Chinon
Maintaining healthy plant communities is essential to preserving biodiversity on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Native plants have a close relationship with and are dependent on native wildlife, but invasive plants and animals can disrupt this relationship, creating degraded habitat over time. That is why it is so important to remove non-native and invasive plants, like castor bean (Ricinus communis) which can be found throughout Southern California. The spread of castor bean plants is one of the leading causes of native biodiversity loss because they spread quickly and displace and prevent growth of native plants.
Castor bean is a perennial shrub that can grow rapidly to be anywhere from three to fifteen feet in height. With thick, palm-like leaves, castor bean plants can shade the surrounding native plants, preventing the native plants from getting the sunlight needed for growth. Though the leaves are typically deep green in color, some varieties have a reddish tint and have an odor when crushed. Castor bean plants contain small, green flowers with separate male and female flowers present on the same plan. The fruit produced is a small, round, spiny capsule, often red and containing smooth seeds inside that can be fatal if consumed.
Castor bean is a perennial shrub that can grow rapidly to be anywhere from three to fifteen feet in height. With thick, palm-like leaves, castor bean plants can shade the surrounding native plants, preventing the native plants from getting the sunlight needed for growth. Though the leaves are typically deep green in color, some varieties have a reddish tint and have an odor when crushed. Castor bean plants contain small, green flowers with separate male and female flowers present on the same plan. The fruit produced is a small, round, spiny capsule, often red and containing smooth seeds inside that can be fatal if consumed.
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