Editing Ricinus (section)

== Etymology ==
[[Carl Linnaeus]] used the name ''Ricinus'' because it is a [[Latin]] word for [[tick]]; the seed is so named because it has markings and a bump at the end that resemble certain ticks. The genus ''[[Ricinus (insect)|Ricinus]]''<ref>Charles de Geer, 1752-1778 ''[http://visualiseur.bnf.fr/CadresFenetre?O=NUMM-97151&M=pagination&Y=Image Mémoires pour servir à l'histoire des insectes]'', digital facsimile at the [[Gallica]] website.</ref> also exists in zoology, and designates insects (not ticks) which are parasites of birds; this is possible because the names of animals and plants are governed by different [[nomenclature codes]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Oliver |first1=Paul M. |last2=Lee |first2=Michael S.Y. |date=2010 |title=The botanical and zoological codes impede biodiversity research by discouraging publication of unnamed new species |journal=Taxon |volume=59 |issue=4 |pages=1201–1205 |doi=10.1002/tax.594020 |issn=0040-0262}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Animal Nomenclature |url=https://projects.ncsu.edu/cals/course/zo150/mozley/nomencla.html |access-date=2020-08-04 |website=projects.ncsu.edu}}</ref>

The common name "castor oil" probably comes from its use as a replacement for [[castoreum]], a perfume base made from the dried [[perineum|perineal glands]] of the [[beaver]] (''castor'' in Latin).<ref>{{cite web |title=The Complex Case of Castor's Etymology |url=http://www.billcasselman.com/cwod_archive/beaver_castor_two.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203042939/http://www.billcasselman.com/cwod_archive/beaver_castor_two.htm |archive-date=3 February 2011}}</ref> It has another common name, '''palm of Christ''', or ''Palma Christi'', that derives from castor oil's reputed ability to heal wounds and cure ailments.