The article reports that chemical studies of a 24,000-year-old wooden stick found in South Africa have revealed the presence of a poison derived from castor beans, making it the earliest evidence of humans using poison. The studies were conducted by a team ...
Cassava is a perennial plant with conspicuous, almost palmate (fan-shaped) leaves resembling those of the related castor-oil plant but more deeply parted into five to nine lobes. The fleshy roots are reminiscent of dahlia tubers. Different varieties range from low herbs to branching shrubs and ...
The article reports that chemical studies of a 24,000-year-old wooden stick found in South Africa have revealed the presence of a poison derived from castor beans, making it the earliest evidence of humans using poison. The studies were conducted by a team of researchers led by Francesco d'...
Planted perils ; Derived from the castor oil plant, ricin is not the only poison lurking in the gardenJANE POWERS