Croton cortesianus

Kunth in A. von Humboldt et al.

Nov. Gen. Sp. 2(fol.): 66; 2(qto.): 83. 1817.

Common names: Cortez’s croton palillo
Synonyms: Croton chichenensis Lundell C. trichocarpus Torrey
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 12. Treatment on page 213. Mentioned on page 210.

Shrubs, 10–30 dm, dioecious. Stems di or trichotomously branched, stellate-hairy, young stems often blackened by fungus. Leaves not clustered; stipules rudimentary; petiole 1–1.5 cm, 1/6–1/3 leaf-blade length, glands absent at apex; blade narrowly obovate, oblong, elliptic, or lanceolate, 3–10 × 1–5 cm, mostly less than 3.5 times as long as wide, base subacute to rounded, margins minutely denticulate, apex acute or acuminate, abaxial surface light green, densely ochraceous stellate-hispid when young, pale stellate-hairy when mature, adaxial surface darker green, glabrous. Inflorescences unisexual, racemes; staminate 7–20 cm, flowers 10–30; pistillate 1–5 cm, flowers 8–20 (–30). Pedicels: staminate 0–1 mm, pistillate 0–0.5 mm. Staminate flowers: sepals 5, 2.5 mm, abaxial surface stellate-hairy; petals 5, oblong, 3 mm, abaxial surface glabrous except margins ciliate basally; stamens 12–16. Pistillate flowers: sepals 5, equal, 1–1.5 mm, margins entire, apex straight to slightly incurved, abaxial surface stellate-hispid; petals rudimentary; ovary 3-locular; styles 3, 4–5 mm, 2-fid, terminal segments 6. Capsules 5–6 × 4.5–5.5 mm, smooth; columella apex with 3 rounded, inflated lobes. Seeds 4–5 × 3–3.5 mm, shiny (with silvery sheen). 2n = 20.


Phenology: Flowering Feb–Oct, possibly year-round.
Habitat: Scrub forests.
Elevation: 0–50 m.

Distribution

V12 209-distribution-map.jpg

Tex., e, se Mexico, Central America

Discussion

Croton cortesianus is known in the flora area only from Cameron, Hidalgo, and Starr counties.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"connate" is not a number. "distinct" is not a number.

... more about "Croton cortesianus"
pale +, ochraceous +  and light green +
stellate-hispid +, glabrous +  and stellate-hairy +
straight +
acuminate;acute +
Benjamin W. van Ee +  and Paul E. Berry +
Kunth in A. von Humboldt et al. +
subacute +  and rounded +
3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br /> (10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br />) +
lanceolate;elliptic;lanceolate;elliptic;oblong;obovate +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br />) +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br />) +
0.45 cm4.5 mm <br />0.0045 m <br /> (0.55 cm5.5 mm <br />0.0055 m <br />) +
Cortez’s croton +  and palillo +
Tex. +, e +, se Mexico +  and Central America +
0–50 m. +
pistillate +  and staminate +
subtending +
Scrub forests. +
scale-like +  and stellate +
axillary +  and terminal +
palmate +  and pinnate +
colorless +  and reddish +
deciduous +, semideciduous +  and persistent +
inflated;rounded +
palmate +  and pinnate +
denticulate +
extrastaminal +
pistillate +  and staminate +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (0.05 cm0.5 mm <br />5.0e-4 m <br />) +
pale green +  and white +
list;count;distinct +
rudimentary +
3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br /> (?) +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br />) +
Flowering Feb–Oct, possibly year-round. +
(1-)3-carpellate +
Nov. Gen. Sp. +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
lenticular +, globose +, ovoid +, oblong +  and ellipsoid +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.35 cm3.5 mm <br />0.0035 m <br />) +
valvate +  and imbricate +
distinct +  and connate +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br />) +
stellate-hairy +
caducous +, deciduous +  and persistent +
connate +  and distinct +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (?) +  and 0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (?) +
Croton chichenensis +  and C. trichocarpus +
Croton cortesianus +
species +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br />) +
perennial +  and annual +
14 +, 10 +, 9 +  and 8 +