Family: Euphorbiaceae
Group: Dicot
Substrate:
Terrestrial
Habit:
Tree
Perennation:
Perennial
Native Range: Africa; widely cultivated and naturalized throughout the tropics and subtropics.
Map of select IRC data for peninsular Florida
SOUTH FLORIDA Occurrence:
Present
SOUTH FLORIDA Native Status:
Not Native, Naturalized
SOUTH FLORIDA Cultivated Status:
Formerly Cultivated
Comments: See a 2018 post on the
Treasure Coast Natives blog on the history of Castor-bean.
FLORIDA KEYS Occurrence:
Present
FLORIDA KEYS Native Status:
Not Native, Naturalized
Map of select IRC data for the Florida Keys
Florida Keys History and Distribution: Reported in 1884 by J. Cosmo Melvill for the island of Key West. Reported in
1913 by John Kunkel Small for pinelands, hammocks and disturbed areas from the upper Keys to the lower Keys. Occasionally naturalized nearly throughout the Florida Keys.
