Croton setigerus
Croton capitatus
dove weed, fish poison, turkey mullein
capitate croton, hogwort, woolly croton
densely and dichotomously shortly branched, forming loose, prostrate circular mats 5–80 cm across, proximally bristly stellate-hairy, central radii spreading, 2–3 mm.
well branched distally, stellate-hairy, hairs whitish to pale yellow, glabrescent.
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.
not clustered;
stipules filiform, 2–5 mm;
petiole 0.5–6 cm, glands absent at apex;
blade ovate to lanceolate-elliptic, 3–8(–15) × 1–4 cm, base rounded to cuneate, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute or rounded, abaxial surface light green, not appearing brown-dotted, no stellate hairs with brown centers, adaxial surface darker green, both appressed stellate-hairy.
unisexual;
staminate dense capitate clusters, 1–2 cm, flowers 2–10;
pistillate clusters, 1–2 cm, flowers 1–3.
bisexual, racemes or capitate, 1.5–3 cm, staminate flowers 5–15, pistillate flowers 3–6.
staminate 0–1 mm, pistillate absent.
staminate 0.5–1.5 mm, pistillate 0–1.5 mm.
sepals 5–6, 2–2.5 mm, abaxial surface densely stellate-hairy;
petals 0;
stamens 5–9.
sepals 5, 0.8–1 mm, abaxial surface stellate-hairy;
petals 5, linear-oblong-lanceolate, 0.8–1 mm, abaxial surface stellate-hairy;
stamens 7–12.
sepals 0;
petals 0;
ovary 1-locular;
style 1, 2–3 mm, unbranched.
sepals 6–9, equal, 7–10 mm to 15 mm in fruit, opening broadly and persistent after capsule dehiscence, margins entire, apex recurved, abaxial surface stellate-hairy;
petals 0;
ovary 3-locular;
styles 3, 2–3 mm, 2–3 times 2-fid, terminal segments 12–18(–24).
follicular (1-seeded), 3–6 × 2–3 mm, smooth;
columella absent.
7–9 × 5–6 mm, smooth;
columella tipped with 3-pronged grappling hooklike appendage.
3–5 × 2–3 mm, shiny.
5 × 4.5–5 mm, shiny.
= 20.
= 20.
Croton setigerus
Croton capitatus
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.)
Croton capitatus is frequently confused with C. heptalon and C. lindheimeri. Croton capitatus usually has some leaves that are blunt-tipped and mucronate (versus all or most acute in C. lindheimeri), and the pistillate sepals are longer than the ovary, with tips that flare outward at anthesis. Also, C. capitatus has petioles roughly equal in length from the middle to the tip of the stem, whereas C. lindheimeri has petioles that decrease more markedly in length from the middle to the tip of the stem. Occurrences of C. capitatus east of the Appalachian Mountains are likely adventive.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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