Croton alabamensis
Croton lindheimerianus
Alabama croton
three-seed croton
usually well branched distally, lepidote.
dichotomously branched, densely stellate-tomentose.
clustered at branch tips;
stipules absent;
petiole 0.6–2 cm, glands absent at apex;
blade elliptic, ovate, or oblong, 3–10 × 1.5–5 cm, base rounded to obtuse, margins entire, sometimes ± undulate, apex acute, rounded, or emarginate, abaxial surface silvery or coppery, densely lepidote, adaxial surface green, sparsely lepidote.
sometimes clustered near inflorescences;
stipules rudimentary;
petiole 0.5–3 cm, glands absent at apex;
blade lanceolate to suborbiculate, 1–5(–8) × 0.8–2.8(–3.5) cm, base rounded, margins entire, apex rounded to acute, abaxial surface pale green, stellate-hairy, adaxial surface darker green, sparsely stellate-hairy.
bisexual or unisexual, racemes, 2–4.5 cm, staminate flowers 0–15, pistillate flowers 0–10.
bisexual, racemes, 1–3 cm, not appearing brown-dotted, no stellate hairs with brown centers, staminate flowers 3–8, pistillate flowers 1–3.
staminate 2.2–4 mm, pistillate 2.2–7.5 mm (7–11 mm in fruit).
staminate 2–3 mm, pistillate 1–5(–15) mm.
sepals 5, 1.1–2.9 mm, abaxial surface lepidote;
petals 5, oblong-ovate, 2–3.1 mm, abaxial surface glabrous except margins stellate-ciliate;
stamens 10–22.
sepals (4–)5, 1.5–2 mm, abaxial surface stellate-hairy;
petals 5, linear-oblong-lanceolate, 1–1.5 mm, abaxial surface glabrous except margins villous;
stamens 7–9(–12).
sepals 5, equal, 2–4.5 mm, margins entire, apex incurved, abaxial surface lepidote;
petals 5, pale green, ovate, 2–3.5 mm;
ovary 3-locular;
styles 3, 2–5 mm, usually unbranched, rarely 2-fid, terminal segments 3 (or 6).
sepals 5–6, equal, 3 mm, margins entire, apex incurved, abaxial surface stellate-hairy;
petals 0;
ovary 3-locular;
styles 3, 2–3 mm, 2-fid to base, terminal segments 6.
1.6–2.5 × 2–3 mm, smooth;
columella 3-angled.
4–5 × 4–4.5 mm, smooth;
columella apex with 3 sharp projections.
6.7–8 × 5.2–6 mm, shiny.
3.2–3.6 × 1.5 mm, shiny.
Croton alabamensis
Croton lindheimerianus
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).
B. W. van Ee et al. (2006) examined populations of Croton alabamensis using DNA sequence and AFLP data, and their results supported the recognition of two varieties and an isolated position in the genus. Buds develop in the summer and fall for the following spring's flowers.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).
Croton lindheimerianus is one of the bifid-styled species in sect. Heptallon.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Leaf blade abaxial surfaces silvery, scales mostly unpigmented or light amber, some dark blackish brown scales sometimes present; inflorescences 9–18-flowered, producing 0–11 fruits; Alabama. | var. alabamensis |
1. Leaf blade abaxial surfaces coppery, some scales unpigmented, others with dark reddish brown center and reddish amber rays; inflorescences 6–14-flowered, producing 0–6 fruits; Texas. | var. texensis |
1. Leaf blades suborbiculate, length mostly less than 2 times width, apex rounded to broadly acute; plants densely velvety appressed-tomentose; pedicels, at least some, recurved in fruit. | var. lindheimerianus |
1. Leaf blades lanceolate, length mostly more than 2 times width, apex acute; plants roughly tomentose; pedicels erect in fruit. | var. tharpii |
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