Castor Oil shortage?

[Hauksbee]

What caused the Germans to run short of Castor Oil? The Castor Bean plants is native to, and grows abundantly, around the Mediterranean and as fae east as India. When I lived in California, they were common as a decorative garden plant. I had several in my front yard and can testify to the fact that they are very easy to grow. Just stick a bean in the ground and forget about it. They can grow as tall as modest sized trees. Could Germany not have a native Castor Bean crop?

[Olham]

According to WIKIPEDIA the Germans had war spoils of 1200 t of castor oil.

Castor beans didn't seem to grow here - they need tropical or sub-tropical climates.

And the British sea blockade prevented any transports into Germany.

[JimAttrill]

Castor oil was a good lubricant for the rotary engine.   Remember that the oil was not kept in the engine but blown out of exhausts and all over the pilot.   Castor oil if kept in the engine tends to form gum which is not good.   Note that the engines used in Speedway were also total-loss lubricated.  Castor oil was used in some fuel dragsters as it works well with alcohol-based fuels.   But those engines are stripped down and cleaned very often.  I must say I love the smell

[Olham]

Thank you for the info, Jim!

[Hauksbee]

At first I was thinking that the Castor Bean plants I had growing near San Francisco were pretty hardy. They could make it through the winter and SF winters got down to the low 50's-high 40's. No snow though. My thoughts were that if they were that tough, they might do well in Germany from early Spring to late Autumn. Then I checked a map. Germany is considerably north of San Francisco. 'Whole different ball game.

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Edited October 27, 2015 by Hauksbee

[Olham]

Yes,Germany is on the same level a Newfoundland and Labrador.