Croton ciliatoglandulifer

Ortega

Nov. Pl. Descr. Dec., 51. 1797.

Common names: Mexican croton
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 12. Treatment on page 213. Mentioned on page 207, 209.

Shrubs, 2–10 dm, monoecious. Stems ± dichotomously branched, stellate-hairy. Leaves not clustered; stipules glandular-ciliate, 2–3 mm; petiole 1–3.5 cm, 1/2–7/10+ leaf-blade length, stipitate-glandular at apex; blade ovate, 2–5 × 1–3 cm, base rounded to subcordate, margins entire glandular-ciliate, apex acute to acuminate, abaxial surface pale green, densely stellate-hairy, adaxial surface darker green, sparsely stellate-hairy. Inflorescences bisexual, racemes, 1–2.5 cm, staminate flowers 3–10, pistillate flowers 1–8. Pedicels: staminate 0.5–1.5 mm, pistillate 2–3 mm. Staminate flowers: sepals 5, 3.5–4 mm, abaxial surface stellate-hairy; petals 5, spatulate, 2.5–3 mm, abaxial surface glabrous; stamens 20–30. Pistillate flowers: sepals 5, equal, 3–5 mm, margins entire, glandular-ciliate, apex straight, abaxial surface stellate-hairy; petals 0; ovary 3-locular; styles 3, 4–5 mm, 4-fid, terminal segments 12. Capsules 4–5 × 5–7 mm, smooth; columella apex with 3 rounded, inflated lobes. Seeds 4–5.5 × 2.5–3 mm, shiny. 2n = 20.


Phenology: Flowering Oct–Dec.
Habitat: Rocky forested slopes, sandy flats.
Elevation: 0–2200 m.

Distribution

V12 68-distribution-map.jpg

Ariz., Tex., Mexico, West Indies

Discussion

Croton ciliatoglandulifer is characterized by the glandular projections on the leaf blade margins, stipules, and pistillate sepals. The species is closely related to C. humilis and C. soliman, which may intergrade with it. Croton ciliatoglandulifer presents an interesting disjunction in the United States from lowland southern Texas (0–150 m elevation) to upland southern Arizona (to 2200 m elevation).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"stipitate-glandular" is not a number."connate" is not a number. "distinct" is not a number.

... more about "Croton ciliatoglandulifer"
stellate-hairy +  and glabrous +
straight +
acute;acuminate +
Benjamin W. van Ee +  and Paul E. Berry +
Ortega +
rounded +  and subcordate +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br />) +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br />) +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br />) +
Mexican croton +
Ariz. +, Tex. +, Mexico +  and West Indies +
0–2200 m. +
pistillate +  and staminate +
subtending +
Rocky forested slopes, sandy flats. +
scale-like +  and stellate +
axillary +  and terminal +
palmate +  and pinnate +
colorless +  and reddish +
deciduous +, semideciduous +  and persistent +
inflated;rounded +
palmate +  and pinnate +
glandular-ciliate +
denticulate +  and crenate +
extrastaminal +
pistillate +  and staminate +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
pale green +  and white +
list;count;distinct +
spatulate +
0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (3.5 cm35 mm <br />0.035 m <br />) +
Flowering Oct–Dec. +
(1-)3-carpellate +
Nov. Pl. Descr. Dec., +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br />) +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (0.55 cm5.5 mm <br />0.0055 m <br />) +
lenticular +, globose +, ovoid +, oblong +  and ellipsoid +
0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
valvate +  and imbricate +
distinct +  and connate +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
stellate-hairy +
caducous +, deciduous +  and persistent +
glandular-ciliate +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
connate +  and distinct +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (?) +  and 0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (?) +
Croton ciliatoglandulifer +
species +
perennial +  and annual +
14 +, 10 +, 9 +  and 8 +