Croton argenteus
Croton pottsii
silver July croton
leatherweed, leatherweed croton
branching once into 2–3 branches, tomentose.
several from base, sparsely branched distally, stellate-hairy.
sometimes clustered near inflorescences;
stipules linear-subulate, 4–11 mm, unlobed or deeply divided;
petiole 0.3–8 cm, glands absent at apex;
blade ovate to ovate-oblong, 2–15 × 1.5–8 cm, base obtuse, cuneate, or subtruncate, margins denticulate, apex obtuse to rounded, abaxial surface pale green, not appearing brown-dotted, no stellate hairs with brown centers, densely stellate-hairy, adaxial surface green, less densely stellate-hairy.
sometimes clustered near inflorescences;
stipules rudimentary;
petiole 0.5–2 cm, glands absent at apex;
blade ovate-oblong, proximal rounder, distal more ovate-elliptic, 1–6 × 1–3 cm, base rounded, margins entire, apex rounded to acute, both surfaces pale to ashy green, softly stellate-hairy.
bisexual, congested racemes, 1–4 cm, staminate flowers 4–10, pistillate flowers 3–6.
bisexual or unisexual, racemes, 0.5–2.5 cm, staminate and pistillate flowers each (12–)20–25.
staminate 2–3 mm, pistillate 1–4 mm (3–5 mm in fruit).
staminate 1.5–6 mm, pistillate 1–3.5 mm, ± recurved in fruit.
sepals 5, 1.5–2 mm, abaxial surface stellate-hairy;
petals 5, oblong, 2–3 mm, abaxial surface glabrous except margins ciliate;
stamens 10–13.
sepals (4–)5, 1–1.5 mm, abaxial surface densely stellate-hairy;
petals (4–)5, oblong-lanceolate, 1–1.3 mm, abaxial surface glabrous except margins villous;
stamens 10–15.
sepals 5, unequal, 4–8 mm, margins deeply laciniate, apex incurved, abaxial surface stellate-hairy;
petals 0;
ovary 3-locular;
styles 3, 2–3 mm, 4-fid, terminal segments 12.
sepals 5, equal, 1.5–3 mm, margins entire, apex straight to slightly incurved, abaxial surface glabrous except stellate-hairy at apex;
petals 0;
ovary 3-locular;
styles 3, 0.5–4.5 mm, 2-fid to base, terminal segments 6.
5 × 7 mm, smooth;
columella 3-angled.
4–6(–7) × 4–5 mm, smooth;
columella apex with 3 sharp projections.
3.2–3.8 × 2.4–3 mm, dull.
3.5–4 × 2–2.5 mm, shiny.
= 20.
Croton argenteus
Croton pottsii
Croton argenteus, which in the flora area is known only from Cameron and Hidalgo counties, may be a fairly recent introduction into the United States; the earliest known collections date from 1923.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).
The affinities of Croton pottsii lie with C. lindheimerianus and C. monanthogynus.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Stems straight; erect radii of stellate hairs shorter than lateral radii, thus pubescence appearing appressed and smooth; leaf blades 1.6–6 cm; racemes mostly 1.1–2.5 cm; styles 1.1–4.5 mm; capsules 4–6(–7) mm. | var. pottsii |
1. Stems somewhat zigzag; erect radii of stellate hairs longer than lateral radii, thus pubescence appearing ± shaggy; leaf blades usually 1–1.4 cm; racemes mostly 0.5–0.9 cm; styles usually 0.5–1 mm; capsules 4 mm. | var. thermophilus |
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