Where can i find Purple Castor Seeds?

18 years ago

I'd love to have some of these. I have some of the other colors, but have room set aside for this one too. Anyone know where they can be found? or anyone have extras?

Thanks,

--Rick

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Comments (7)

planting_nut
18 years ago
I have New Zealand Purple Castor. I'll send you an email.
~Bren
unautre
18 years ago
Source: USDA/Agricultural Research Service
Date: 2005-12-16
URL: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/12/051216185601.htm

New Secret To Castor Bean's Awesome Oil Revealed

Castor plants, source of one of the world's best industrial oils, are gradually revealing the secrets of how they make this prized substance. Scientists with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Albany, Calif., are delving into the mostly-mysterious mechanisms.

Castor oil is unique and is valued as a lubricant for heavy machinery, or for making greases, pharmaceuticals, paints and more.

The researchers' probing has revealed, for the first time, the starring role that a gene called RcDGAT may play in directing the castor plant to put the oil's most important component, known as ricinoleate, into it.

Ricinoleate is safe and free of ricin, the castor bean plants' natural toxin. The word "ricin" in the name "ricinoleate" stems from the plant's scientific name, Ricinus communis.

ARS research chemist Thomas A. McKeon did the work at the ARS Western Regional Research Center in Albany along with research chemist Jiann-Tsyh Lin and ARS research associate and molecular biologist Xiaohua He.

The scientists filed a patent application for the gene last year. Right now, the researchers are continuing to slip the newly identified gene into yeasts in laboratory experiments that will determine more about how to harness RcDGAT's oil-making prowess.

The idea of producing castor's superior oil in some other plant--one that's safe and easy to grow in the United States--isn't new. But RcDGAT will likely be more important in performing that biochemical feat than other castor-plant genes.

The United States imports about $50 million worth of castor oil every year, primarily from India and mainly for industrial uses.

Dow Chemical Co. of Midland, Mich., provided some of the funding through a research and development agreement with ARS, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency.

This story has been adapted from a news release issued by USDA/Agricultural Research Service.
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rusty_blackhaw
18 years ago
Yeah, but if the USDA was really on the ball they'd send us all some seeds of purple-leaved castor beans.

Many seed houses offer bronze or purple-leaved varieties. Johnny's or J.L. Hudson would be worth checking out.
Boca_Joe(zone 7b) southern Delaware
18 years ago
hi guys!

so far the NEw Zealand Purple is the purple-est I have grown.

Go for it!

Boca Joe
unautre
18 years ago
castor bean assassination:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgi_Markov
rsieminski
Original Author
18 years ago
:o I will stay away from KGB with umbrellas. J/K Interesting read, I've never read that before.

--Rick
unautre
18 years ago
"NEw Zealand Purple is the purple-est"

where to find it? can you spare some seeds?