Bitter Vetch vs Castor

Lathyrus linifolius compared with Ricinus communis

Key Differences

• Bitter Vetch is Endangered while Castor is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Bitter Vetch	Castor
Kingdom same	Plantae (Plants)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum same	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class same	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Fabales (Legumes & Allies)	Malpighiales (Malpighiales)
Family	Fabaceae	Euphorbiaceae
Genus	Lathyrus	Ricinus
Species	Lathyrus linifolius	Ricinus communis

Evolutionary Relationship

Bitter Vetch and Castor share a common ancestor at the Class level: Magnoliopsida. (Dicots)

Conservation Status

Bitter Vetch

EN — Endangered

Castor

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Bitter Vetch	Castor
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Bitter Vetch

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries). Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Castor

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, flooded grasslands and savannas, and montane grasslands and shrublands, among 7 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (33 countries), Asia (26 countries), Europe (23 countries), North America (15 countries), Oceania and the Pacific (14 countries), and South America (12 countries).

Bitter Vetch

The Bitter Vetch (Lathyrus linifolius) is a species in the genus Lathyrus. It is currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Castor

The Castor (Ricinus communis) is a species in the genus Ricinus. Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, flooded grasslands and savannas, and montane grasslands and shrublands, among 7 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and hi

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 5 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇵🇹 Portugal 🇸🇪 Sweden