palma christi
    n 1: large shrub of tropical Africa and Asia having large
         palmate leaves and spiny capsules containing seeds that are
         the source of castor oil and ricin; widely naturalized
         throughout the tropics [syn: castor-oil plant, castor
         bean plant, palma christi, palma christ, Ricinus
         communis]

Palma Christi \Pal"ma Chris"ti\ [L., palm of Christ.] (Bot.)
   A plant (Ricinus communis) with ornamental peltate and
   palmately cleft foliage, growing as a woody perennial in the
   tropics, and cultivated as an herbaceous annual in temperate
   regions; -- called also castor-oil plant. [Sometimes
   corrupted into palmcrist.]
   [1913 Webster]

Palmic \Pal"mic\, a. [Cf. F. palmique.] (Chem.)
   Of, pertaining to, or derived from, the castor-oil plant
   (Ricinus communis, or Palma Christi) and other species of
   the family Euphorbiaceae; -- formerly used to designate an
   acid now called ricinoleic acid (d-12-hydroxyoleic acid,
   C18H34O3). [Obsoles.]
   [1913 Webster]

ricinoleic acid \ric`in*o"le*ic ac"id\, n. (Chem.)
   An organic acid (C18H34O3) obtained from the castor-oil
   plant (Ricinus communis, or Palma Christi) and other
   species of the family Euphorbiaceae; chemicaly it is
   d-12-hydroxyoleic acid
   (CH3(CH2)5.CH(OH).CH2.CH=CH.(CH2)7COOH). Formerly called
   palmic acid.
   [1913 Webster +PJC]

Castor oil \Cas"tor oil\ (k[a^]s"t[~e]r oil`).
   A mild cathartic oil, expressed or extracted from the seeds
   of the Ricinus communis, or Palma Christi. When fresh the
   oil is inodorous and insipid.
   [1913 Webster]

   Castor-oil plant. Same as Palma Christi.
      [1913 Webster]

Castor bean \Cas"tor bean`\ (Bot.)
   The bean or seed of the castor-oil plant (Ricinus communis,
   or Palma Christi.)
   [1913 Webster]