Flora of North America species comparison

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Croton setigerus

dove weed, fish poison, turkey mullein
Habit Herbs, annual, 0.5–5 dm, monoecious.
Stems

densely and dichotomously shortly branched, forming loose, prostrate circular mats 5–80 cm across, proximally bristly stellate-hairy, central radii spreading, 2–3 mm.
Leaves

mostly clustered near inflorescences;

stipules rudimentary;

petiole 0.3–5 cm, glands absent at apex;

blade ovate to rhombic, 0.8–6.5 × 0.8–4 cm, base cuneate, margins entire, apex obtuse, abaxial surface pale grayish green, adaxial surface grayish green, both densely stellate-hairy.
Inflorescences

unisexual;

staminate dense capitate clusters, 1–2 cm, flowers 2–10;

pistillate clusters, 1–2 cm, flowers 1–3.
Pedicels

staminate 0–1 mm, pistillate absent.
Staminate flowers

sepals 5–6, 2–2.5 mm, abaxial surface densely stellate-hairy;

petals 0;

stamens 5–9.
Pistillate flowers

sepals 0;

petals 0;

ovary 1-locular;

style 1, 2–3 mm, unbranched.
Capsules

follicular (1-seeded), 3–6 × 2–3 mm, smooth;

columella absent.
Seeds

3–5 × 2–3 mm, shiny.
2n

= 20.

Croton setigerus
Phenology Flowering Jun–Oct.
Habitat Coastal sage scrub, foothill woodlands, valley grasslands, oak woodlands, edges of fields, dry stream beds, disturbed areas, roadsides.
Elevation 0–1900 m. (0–6200 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; ID; NV; OR; UT; WA; Mexico (Baja California) [Introduced s South America (Chile), Australia]
[WildflowerSearch map]
Discussion

Croton setigerus is nearly unique in the genus with its one-locular fruit, single unbranched style, and pistillate flowers devoid of any perianth. The foliage is toxic to animals, and the crushed plants were used by Native Americans to stupefy fish. The seeds are palatable to birds, giving rise to the common names cited above. Individual plants produce either mottled, striped, or solid gray or black seeds. Gray seeds are produced by desiccating plants and appear to be much less palatable to doves than the other color morphs (A. D. Cook et al. 1971).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Source FNA vol. 12, p. 223.
Parent taxa Euphorbiaceae > Croton
Sibling taxa
C. alabamensis, C. argenteus, C. argyranthemus, C. californicus, C. capitatus, C. ciliatoglandulifer, C. cortesianus, C. coryi, C. dioicus, C. elliottii, C. fruticulosus, C. glandulosus, C. heptalon, C. humilis, C. incanus, C. leucophyllus, C. lindheimeri, C. lindheimerianus, C. linearis, C. michauxii, C. monanthogynus, C. parksii, C. pottsii, C. punctatus, C. sancti-lazari, C. soliman, C. sonorae, C. suaveolens, C. texensis, C. wigginsii
Synonyms Eremocarpus setigerus
Name authority Hooker: Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2: 141. (1838) — (as setigerum)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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