Help with mystery seeds...

The Hollyberry Lady · 10-14-2009, 08:16 AM

Recently, someone anonymously mailed me some mystery seeds that were not labelled. The seeds are inside these prickly balls...

When you remove the seeds from the pods, here is how they look...

After 10 days, they began to sprout. Here is how they look now...

The person said they were mystery flower seeds. Does anyone have a clue as to what they might be?...

: )

Randy4ut · 10-14-2009, 08:41 AM

They are Ricinus communis. Castor bean and are very poisonous. May want to read up on them before handling too much. I grow them every year, but don't start them til first of February. Mine get over 12' tall every year. They do not bother me when handling, but I wash off after I finish whatever it is I am doing with them. Some folks are affected greatly by them from just handling the plant and/or seeds.
Beautiful plants that do add a nice tropical feel wherever they are planted.

The Hollyberry Lady · 10-14-2009, 08:49 AM

Thank you, Randy!!!

How awful that the person didn't warn me they were poisonous!!! I've been handling them like crazy!!!

: O

I am going to go wash my hands, keyboard, and anything else I've touched. WOW!

I love castor bean, and I think this might be the purple leaved variety, because I remember mentioning on another forum that I wanted some.

Thanks again, for helping me with these seeds. I sure appreciate it.

: )

bikoro child · 10-14-2009, 08:53 AM

they are poisonous on ly if you eat them!!

The Hollyberry Lady · 10-14-2009, 09:49 AM

No chance of that happening, but thanks for mentioning it. So glad I posted these shots today.

Thanks for all your help, guys. I will continue to show shots of it as it grows. Here is what someone else said about my seeds and sprouts on another forum...

Quote:

Looks like castor bean. Maybe the reddish/bronze variety. If it is, just a heads up- castor beans/plants are considered to be poisonous. Even though castor oil has medicinal uses, ricin (a gnarly poison) is synthesized from it as well. Cool plant though. Have some in far down in my canyon.

: )

The Hollyberry Lady · 10-14-2009, 05:20 PM

I thinned a few sprouts, and kept only the two strongeset ones. They're raising up fast now...

: )

Blake09 · 10-14-2009, 09:16 PM

Yes castor bean... how did I miss this thread!?

In the genus world record book the plnt is the #1 most toxic in the world! anything that bites the leaves, seeds die including pests like spider mights, aphids, etc. dies/ They have no pest problems.

The Hollyberry Lady · 10-14-2009, 09:22 PM

Well, I knew all about the poisonous part, but not the fact that it has no pests!!! That's just great!

I still have to worry about Henry though, so I intend on keeping it far away fom him...

I am really hoping it turns out to be the purple leaved variety, as I am told in another thread that it might be, because of the color of the sprouts.

I will post shots as it grows for me...

: )

Jananas Bananas · 10-14-2009, 09:52 PM

You sure do a heck of a job growing things from seed (I read all your threads

). I can usually get sprouts but they die in the "hardening off" process. Any secret tips you can share with me?

The Hollyberry Lady · 10-14-2009, 09:59 PM

If you have a hard time with the hardening off process, then try to sprout your seeds in the conditions they'll be growing in right from the start, so you don't have to be bothered.

Thanks for the compliments - I do like to grow mostly everything from seed, yes. I am so looking forward to seeing how this Castor Bean plant will turn out - and whether or not it's purple...

: )

Jananas Bananas · 10-14-2009, 10:03 PM

I have some "Jigsaw" pepper seeds I am trying to get for you if you don't have that one. I haven't seen it in your pictures. You can google it to see what it looks like. It is a dwarf multicolor purple leaf. It's very pretty.

Worm_Farmer · 10-14-2009, 10:10 PM

Purple Caster Bean!

I cant find where my pictures went, They make an awesome color show. The leafs look almost like a metallic purple on top of green / bronze leafs. Red stalks / steams, and BRIGHT hot pink spiky seed pots in clusters. I still have a few seeds left but have not been able to get one to grow all the big yet. I think about 3' is the biggest I have had don't know what I am doing wrong or what they really like. They also help with nematodes and moles, that's the reason why I picked them up in the first place. I am sure you will enjoy growing them.

The Hollyberry Lady · 10-14-2009, 10:16 PM

I'd love some - those look cool. We'll discuss it in pm tomorrow, if that's ok.

Going to bed now...

: )

The Hollyberry Lady · 10-14-2009, 10:18 PM

Thanks Worm Farmer - for the information. Yours sounds gorgeous!

: o

Taylor · 10-15-2009, 12:05 AM

If they don't turn out to be the purple variety, I can send you some, but those look identical to our purple ones, sprout and all. Ours come up volunteer every year, even some seedlings are coming up in the yard now after a cool spell a few weeks ago triggered them to do so.

bikoro child · 10-15-2009, 12:34 AM

Instead of ricinus communis you can get ricinus zanzibariensis which make a tall plant 10feet high whith big leaves
Ricin de Zanzibar - Feuilles endommagées et de grande taille - Les galeries photo de plantes de GardenBreizh

The Hollyberry Lady · 10-15-2009, 08:04 AM

Thanks, Taylor, but I am pretty sure that this is the purple variety. I guess time will tell...

That is one big tree, Bikoro child! It's a little too large for me, but it sure is nice.

: )

The Hollyberry Lady · 10-15-2009, 10:30 AM

Here are my castor bean seedlings this morning - nearly raised up...

They remind me of pink flamingos with their heads buried in the dirt!!!

: )

The Hollyberry Lady · 10-15-2009, 04:43 PM

Well, here are the cotyledon leaves, trying to rise up this evening...

: )

The Hollyberry Lady · 10-18-2009, 06:40 PM

Here is my tall little seedling - pic taken earlier today. Keeping only one plant, so I thinned the other sprouts.

These are just the cotyledon leaves now, but the 1st set of trues leaves are beginning to form. I can see that this is a very fast growing plant...

: )

10-14-2009, 08:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
The Hollyberry Lady The Hollyberry Lady 's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15,161 BananaBucks : 1,318,961 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12,042 Times Was Thanked 11,326 Times in 5,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 102 Times	Help with mystery seeds... Recently, someone anonymously mailed me some mystery seeds that were not labelled. The seeds are inside these prickly balls... When you remove the seeds from the pods, here is how they look... After 10 days, they began to sprout. Here is how they look now... The person said they were mystery flower seeds. Does anyone have a clue as to what they might be?... : )

10-14-2009, 08:41 AM	#2 (permalink)
Randy4ut Randy4ut's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,387 BananaBucks : 86,978 Feedback: 23 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,051 Times Was Thanked 1,324 Times in 444 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 87 Times	Re: Help with mystery seeds... They are Ricinus communis. Castor bean and are very poisonous. May want to read up on them before handling too much. I grow them every year, but don't start them til first of February. Mine get over 12' tall every year. They do not bother me when handling, but I wash off after I finish whatever it is I am doing with them. Some folks are affected greatly by them from just handling the plant and/or seeds. Beautiful plants that do add a nice tropical feel wherever they are planted. __________________

10-14-2009, 08:49 AM	#3 (permalink)
The Hollyberry Lady The Hollyberry Lady 's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15,161 BananaBucks : 1,318,961 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12,042 Times Was Thanked 11,326 Times in 5,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 102 Times	Re: Help with mystery seeds... Thank you, Randy!!! How awful that the person didn't warn me they were poisonous!!! I've been handling them like crazy!!! : O I am going to go wash my hands, keyboard, and anything else I've touched. WOW! I love castor bean, and I think this might be the purple leaved variety, because I remember mentioning on another forum that I wanted some. Thanks again, for helping me with these seeds. I sure appreciate it. : ) Last edited by The Hollyberry Lady : 10-14-2009 at 09:30 AM.

10-14-2009, 08:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
bikoro child bikoro child's Photo Gallery Location: south-west of France Find me on the map! Zone: zone 8 Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,026 BananaBucks : 263,484 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 381 Times Was Thanked 578 Times in 208 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 56 Times	Re: Help with mystery seeds... they are poisonous on ly if you eat them!! __________________ Ivan

10-14-2009, 05:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
The Hollyberry Lady The Hollyberry Lady 's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15,161 BananaBucks : 1,318,961 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12,042 Times Was Thanked 11,326 Times in 5,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 102 Times	Re: Help with mystery seeds... I thinned a few sprouts, and kept only the two strongeset ones. They're raising up fast now... : )

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10-14-2009, 09:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
Blake09 Blake09 's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 7B Name: Blake Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1,237 BananaBucks : 113,115 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,424 Times Was Thanked 1,105 Times in 448 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 328 Times	Re: Help with mystery seeds... Yes castor bean... how did I miss this thread!? In the genus world record book the plnt is the #1 most toxic in the world! anything that bites the leaves, seeds die including pests like spider mights, aphids, etc. dies/ They have no pest problems. __________________ A banana plant in the autumn gale - I listen to the dripping of rain Into a basin at night. ~ Basho Matsuo (1644- 1694)

10-14-2009, 09:22 PM	#8 (permalink)
The Hollyberry Lady The Hollyberry Lady 's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15,161 BananaBucks : 1,318,961 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12,042 Times Was Thanked 11,326 Times in 5,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 102 Times	Re: Help with mystery seeds... Well, I knew all about the poisonous part, but not the fact that it has no pests!!! That's just great! I still have to worry about Henry though, so I intend on keeping it far away fom him... I am really hoping it turns out to be the purple leaved variety, as I am told in another thread that it might be, because of the color of the sprouts. I will post shots as it grows for me... : )

10-14-2009, 09:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
Jananas Bananas Jananas Bananas's Photo Gallery Location: Austin, Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b/9a Name: JaNan Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 4,438 BananaBucks : 396,351 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,341 Times Was Thanked 7,059 Times in 2,683 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 133 Times	Re: Help with mystery seeds... You sure do a heck of a job growing things from seed (I read all your threads ). I can usually get sprouts but they die in the "hardening off" process. Any secret tips you can share with me? __________________ Jananas Bananas

10-14-2009, 09:59 PM	#10 (permalink)
The Hollyberry Lady The Hollyberry Lady 's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15,161 BananaBucks : 1,318,961 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12,042 Times Was Thanked 11,326 Times in 5,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 102 Times	Re: Help with mystery seeds... If you have a hard time with the hardening off process, then try to sprout your seeds in the conditions they'll be growing in right from the start, so you don't have to be bothered. Thanks for the compliments - I do like to grow mostly everything from seed, yes. I am so looking forward to seeing how this Castor Bean plant will turn out - and whether or not it's purple... : )

10-14-2009, 10:03 PM	#11 (permalink)
Jananas Bananas Jananas Bananas's Photo Gallery Location: Austin, Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b/9a Name: JaNan Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 4,438 BananaBucks : 396,351 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,341 Times Was Thanked 7,059 Times in 2,683 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 133 Times	Re: Help with mystery seeds... I have some "Jigsaw" pepper seeds I am trying to get for you if you don't have that one. I haven't seen it in your pictures. You can google it to see what it looks like. It is a dwarf multicolor purple leaf. It's very pretty. __________________ Jananas Bananas

10-14-2009, 10:10 PM	#12 (permalink)
Worm_Farmer Worm_Farmer 's Photo Gallery Location: Palm Bay, FL Zone: 9b Name: Mike Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,533 BananaBucks : 50,282 Feedback: 14 / 100% Said "Thanks" 5,326 Times Was Thanked 1,830 Times in 679 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,866 Times	Re: Help with mystery seeds... Purple Caster Bean! I cant find where my pictures went, They make an awesome color show. The leafs look almost like a metallic purple on top of green / bronze leafs. Red stalks / steams, and BRIGHT hot pink spiky seed pots in clusters. I still have a few seeds left but have not been able to get one to grow all the big yet. I think about 3' is the biggest I have had don't know what I am doing wrong or what they really like. They also help with nematodes and moles, that's the reason why I picked them up in the first place. I am sure you will enjoy growing them.

10-14-2009, 10:16 PM	#13 (permalink)
The Hollyberry Lady The Hollyberry Lady 's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15,161 BananaBucks : 1,318,961 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12,042 Times Was Thanked 11,326 Times in 5,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 102 Times	Re: Help with mystery seeds... I'd love some - those look cool. We'll discuss it in pm tomorrow, if that's ok. Going to bed now... : )

10-14-2009, 10:18 PM	#14 (permalink)
The Hollyberry Lady The Hollyberry Lady 's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15,161 BananaBucks : 1,318,961 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12,042 Times Was Thanked 11,326 Times in 5,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 102 Times	Re: Help with mystery seeds... Thanks Worm Farmer - for the information. Yours sounds gorgeous! : o

10-15-2009, 12:05 AM	#15 (permalink)
Taylor Taylor 's Photo Gallery Location: VA Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Taylor Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,084 BananaBucks : 215,976 Feedback: 15 / 100% Said "Thanks" 355 Times Was Thanked 662 Times in 334 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 283 Times	Re: Help with mystery seeds... If they don't turn out to be the purple variety, I can send you some, but those look identical to our purple ones, sprout and all. Ours come up volunteer every year, even some seedlings are coming up in the yard now after a cool spell a few weeks ago triggered them to do so.

10-15-2009, 12:34 AM	#16 (permalink)
bikoro child bikoro child's Photo Gallery Location: south-west of France Find me on the map! Zone: zone 8 Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,026 BananaBucks : 263,484 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 381 Times Was Thanked 578 Times in 208 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 56 Times	Re: Help with mystery seeds... Instead of ricinus communis you can get ricinus zanzibariensis which make a tall plant 10feet high whith big leaves Ricin de Zanzibar - Feuilles endommagées et de grande taille - Les galeries photo de plantes de GardenBreizh __________________ Ivan

10-15-2009, 08:04 AM	#17 (permalink)
The Hollyberry Lady The Hollyberry Lady 's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15,161 BananaBucks : 1,318,961 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12,042 Times Was Thanked 11,326 Times in 5,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 102 Times	Re: Help with mystery seeds... Thanks, Taylor, but I am pretty sure that this is the purple variety. I guess time will tell... That is one big tree, Bikoro child! It's a little too large for me, but it sure is nice. : )

10-15-2009, 10:30 AM	#18 (permalink)
The Hollyberry Lady The Hollyberry Lady 's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15,161 BananaBucks : 1,318,961 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12,042 Times Was Thanked 11,326 Times in 5,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 102 Times	Re: Help with mystery seeds... Here are my castor bean seedlings this morning - nearly raised up... They remind me of pink flamingos with their heads buried in the dirt!!! : )

10-15-2009, 04:43 PM	#19 (permalink)
The Hollyberry Lady The Hollyberry Lady 's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15,161 BananaBucks : 1,318,961 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12,042 Times Was Thanked 11,326 Times in 5,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 102 Times	Re: Help with mystery seeds... Well, here are the cotyledon leaves, trying to rise up this evening... : )

10-18-2009, 06:40 PM	#20 (permalink)
The Hollyberry Lady The Hollyberry Lady 's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15,161 BananaBucks : 1,318,961 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12,042 Times Was Thanked 11,326 Times in 5,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 102 Times	Re: Help with mystery seeds... Here is my tall little seedling - pic taken earlier today. Keeping only one plant, so I thinned the other sprouts. These are just the cotyledon leaves now, but the 1st set of trues leaves are beginning to form. I can see that this is a very fast growing plant... : )

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