Croton alabamensis
Croton sancti-lazari
Alabama croton
trans-Pecos croton
usually well branched distally, lepidote.
much branched proximally, coarsely 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.
not clustered;
stipules each 1 glandular papilla, 0.1 mm;
petiole 0.1–0.4(–0.6) cm, 1/10–1/5 blade length, glands absent at apex;
blade ovate to elliptic-ovate, 1–3(–4.5) × 0.5–1.5(–2) cm, base usually rounded to obtuse, rarely acute, margins entire, apex acute or rounded, abaxial surface pale green to pale yellow, stellate-tomentose, adaxial surface darker green, stellate-tomentose.
bisexual or unisexual, racemes, 2–4.5 cm, staminate flowers 0–15, pistillate flowers 0–10.
unisexual;
staminate racemes, 1–3.3 cm, flowers 1–8;
pistillate congested racemes, 0.1–0.3 cm, flowers 1–3.
staminate 2.2–4 mm, pistillate 2.2–7.5 mm (7–11 mm in fruit).
staminate 1 mm, pistillate 0–0.5 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, 2 mm, abaxial surface stellate-hairy;
petals (4–)5, narrowly oblanceolate, 1.8–2 mm, abaxial surface nearly glabrous;
stamens 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, equal, 1 mm, margins entire, apex straight to slightly incurved, abaxial surface stellate-hairy;
petals 0 or rudimentary;
ovary 3-locular;
styles 3, 1.5–2 mm, 2-fid to base, terminal segments 6.
1.6–2.5 × 2–3 mm, smooth;
columella 3-angled.
4–5 × 5.5–6 mm, smooth;
columella apex with 3 rounded, inflated lobes.
6.7–8 × 5.2–6 mm, shiny.
3.6–4.7 × 2.8–3.4 mm, shiny.
Croton alabamensis
Croton sancti-lazari
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.)
Croton sancti-lazari in the flora area grows only in Brewster and Presidio counties.
(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 |
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