A tropical houseplant with colorful, patterned leaves, or the genus of plants including the castor bean.
From Greek 'kroton' meaning tick, because the seeds resembled ticks. The name was applied to various plants in this genus, particularly those cultivated for ornamental foliage.
The castor bean plant (Croton) has supplied humanity with everything from castor oil medicine to ricin—showing how the same plant can be both a gentle laxative and a deadly poison depending on how you use it!
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