Kevin

Can Castor bean plants be composted? Is the entire plant poisonous? Is it okay if the compost is not used for plants that will be eaten?

saltydad

My understanding is that the entire plant is highly toxic.

Pathophysiology

These beans contain potent toxalbumins that inhibit protein synthesis and cause severe cytotoxic effects on multiple organ systems. Castor beans contain the toxalbumin ricin, and jequirity beans contain abrin. The toxins are present in all parts of the plant but are most concentrated in the beans or seeds. Symptoms include delayed gastroenteritis, which may be severe and hemorrhagic, followed by delirium, seizures, coma, and death. The beans are covered by a hard, relatively impervious outer shell that must be chewed or broken in some way in order for the toxalbumin to be released and, thus, present a toxic hazard. Castor beans are particularly antigenic and may cause severe cutaneous hypersensitivity and systemic reaction. (emphasis added)


Plant Poisoning, Castor Bean and Jequirity Bean: eMedicine Emergency Medicine

__________________
Men In Nursing- "A Few Good Men"

"Gardening is the purest of human pleasures." - Francis Bacon





"If by a liberal, they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind; someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions; someone who cares about the welfare of the people, their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, their civil liberties; someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicion that grips us; that is what they meant by a liberal, I am proud to be a liberal."
John F. Kennedy, September, 1960


http://flickr.com/photos/saltydad/ and
http://community.webshots.com/user/saltydad
http://s751.photobucket.com/albums/xx151/saltydad/

Kevin

Still poisonous after composting, though?

sunfish

Kevin

Thanks. That link doesn't work, but I think that was my thread. I posted it there too to get some different opinions.

Worm_Farmer

I know the plant is toxic. But I let the leafs fall and rake them over to my compost piles. The steams are like trunks and all hard wood so I throw they over the fence and grind it down to smaller parts ever other year. The seeds I try to throw over the fence and keep a few each year.

sandy0225

We compost them. Haven't died yet...lol...just dont eat your compost by the handful and you should be fine.

__________________
Sandy Burrell



Northern Tropics Greenhouse
1501 East Fuson Road
Muncie, IN 47302
www.northerntropics.com


specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~
check out our new online store at our website!