Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Spurge family

Every time I post a photo of this flowering tropical plant, I still don't know the name of it and I'm also never sure whether to call it pink or red. Taken in the ENMAX Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo on 30 September 2011. Later: "Jatropha integerrima, commonly known as Peregrina or Spicy Jatropha, is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, that is native to Cuba and Hispaniola." From Wikipedia. Many thanks to the various Flickr members who identified this plant for me, below!

Can never remember what these small flowers are called, but they always grow in the butterfly room in the ENMAX Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo. Macro shot taken on 6 October 2012. ID seems to be Jatropha integerrima - thanks, Art (LeapFrog!) - much appreciated!

The Castor Bean plant is an amazing one. This was the first time I had seen the tiny flowers and beautifull buds. Will post a previously uploaded photo in the comments, showing what the spectacular seedpods look like. I am thrilled that these grow at the Calgary Zoo. Seen on 14th September last year. "The castor bean plant, Ricinus communis, is a "native of tropical Africa cultivated in several varieties for the oil found in its leaves and for its bold foliage."(Alber and Alber) The "stalked leaves consist of usually eight radiating, pointed leaflets with slightly serrated edges and prominent central veins. Many varieties are green, but some are reddish brown."(Cooper and Johnson) The flowers are green and inconspicuous, but pink or red in the pigmented varieties. Many stamens are near the base and branching pistils are near the top of the flower. The soft-spined fruits containing attractively mottled seeds are distinctive features of the plant. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens, sometimes as a houseplant, and also grows as a weed. It is an annual in the south and a perennial in the tropics, and it may reach "15 feet tall outdoors". It is a woody herb belonging to the family of Euphorbiacea (Spurge). The seeds from the castor bean plant, Ricinus communis, are poisonous to people, animals and insects. Castor beans are pressed to extract castor oil which is used for medicinal purposes." From www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/castorbean .