An anatomical model of a Ricinus Communis comonly known as a a castor bean or castor oil plant.Three prickly forked magenta extensions rise out of a greenish brown bulb with upward curved spines. Folded browish green leaves hang underneath with a thick green stem. It is glued to a vertical rod which is mounted on a stepped base with an affixed paper label.

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	We acquired this object.
2019	We photographed this object. We photographed this object. We photographed this object. We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

Model, Ricinus Communis, 1875–1898

This is a model. It is dated 1875–1898. Its medium is wood, papier-mâché, cardboard, plaster, reed pith, metal, string, feathers, gelatin, glass and bone glue beads, cloth, metallic thread, horsehair, hemp, silk threads, paint, and shellac varnish. It is a part of the department.

Ricinus communis, popularly known as castor bean or castor-oil plant, is indigenous to Eastern Africa. The plant’s oil has been applied to many pharmaceutical and industrial uses throughout history, from fueling lamps in ancient Egypt to lubricating airplanes’ rotary engines flown by the Allies during World War I.

It is credited Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

Drawing, Botanical Sketches
Gift of Louis P. Church.
1917-4-836-b

Textile, Eden
83% polyester, 17% cotton.
Gift of Maharam.
2018-25-2

Round white porcelain plate with wavy brown-edged rim, painted with plants and insects. At left, a stem of crinum with a cluster of pointed six-petal flowers and buds atop a thick stem. The curling white petals have purple-pink undersides; the buds are the same purple-pink. The stem and five large leaves at its base are yellow-green. Surrounding the large flower, smaller flowers and foliage, and insects. At one o'clock, small orange five-petal flowers with buds; at three o'clock, trumpet-shaped pale blue morning glories and a light brown butterfly; at nine o'clock, pale yellow five-petal flowers and an oval-shaped blue beetle.

"Hans Sloane" Botanical Plate Plate
soft paste porcelain, vitreous enamels.
Gift of Irwin Untermyer.
1957-11-2

Our curators have highlighted 1 object that are related to this one.

The Use Of The Plant In Decorative Design, Book

The Use Of The Plant In Decorative Design, Book
lithograph on paper.
Smithsonian Libraries, NK1560 .L3X 1912.
139.2018.8

Its dimensions are

H x W x D: 52.1 × 26.7 × 26.7 cm (20 1/2 × 10 1/2 × 10 1/2 in.)

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Botanical Lessons.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/4wUqxC/
Accession Number 22.2018.1
Object ID 2318793578