Morphological, Anatomical and Chemical Characterization of Ricinus communis L. (Euphorbiaceae)

Ricinus communis L. (Euphorbiaceae, Acalyphoideae) is a highly variable species known as the castor oil plant. This study aimed to describe R. using several methodologies, such vegetative morphometry, leaf surface ultrastructure, soil analysis, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) understand diversity of this species. The morphological analysis revealed that some samples had purple stems while others were grayish-green. purple-stemmed phenotype reflects intra-specific multivariate 25 based on 34 morphometric characteristics they belonged three main groups (morphotypes). Each group attained specific discriminating it from other groups. Selected each investigated SEM, GC-MS. performed GC-MS technique six major compounds detected in chromatograms studied samples. highest percentages n-Hexadecanoic acid 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic recorded. demonstrated adaptive growth capability, where plants inhabiting coastal sites are salt-sensitive, inland relatively drought-tolerant variation between morphotypes indicated possibility direct indirect use these varieties genetic improvement programs