Ricinus \Ric"i*nus\, n. [L., the castor-oil plant.]

(Bot.) A genus of plants of the Spurge family, containing but one species (R. communis), the castor-oil plant. The fruit is three-celled, and contains three large seeds from which castor oil iss expressed. See Palma Christi.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)