Botanical name : Ricinus communis Linn. (Red variety)
Family : Euphorbiaceae
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Rakterandah, Panchangula, Vatari, Deerghadanda, Gandharvahasta, Tharuna, Vardhamana, Rubkam
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Kashaya, Madhura, Katu
Guna : Guru, Snigda, Teekshna, Sookshma
Virya : Ushna
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Red Castor
Hindi : Erandi, Erand
Malayalam : Chuvanna avanakku
PLANT DESCRIPTION
A perennial, bushy, soft-wooded small tree with a thin grayish brown bark; leaves palmately lobed with seven or more serrate lobes; flowers monoecious in terminal red colored panniculate racemes with crowded male flowers on the upper half of the inflorescence and the pistillate at the basal half; fruits globose, explosively dehiscent, 3-seeded capsules, when young it is dull red and covered with fleshy prickles; seeds oblong with smooth, hard, mottled crustaceous testa with a white caruncle at the top enclosing oily and fleshy endosperm
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated vata, abdominal discomfort, constipation, inflammation, fever, ascites, bronchitis, cough, leprosy, skin diseases, colic and lumbago. Compared to white variety, this variety has more purgative potency.
Useful parts : Root, Leaves, Flowers, Seeds, Oil