Croton setigerus
Croton heptalon
dove weed, fish poison, turkey mullein
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.
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 linear, 2–7 mm;
petiole 0.5–5 cm, glands absent at apex;
blade ovate-lanceolate, 3–10 × 1–5 cm, base cordate to rounded, margins entire, apex acute, abaxial surface pale green, not appearing brown-dotted, no stellate hairs with brown centers, adaxial surface darker green, both stellate-hairy.
unisexual;
staminate dense capitate clusters, 1–2 cm, flowers 2–10;
pistillate clusters, 1–2 cm, flowers 1–3.
bisexual, racemes, 2–4 cm, staminate flowers 3–10, pistillate flowers 4–8.
staminate 0–1 mm, pistillate absent.
staminate 2–4 mm, pistillate 1–2 mm.
sepals 5–6, 2–2.5 mm, abaxial surface densely stellate-hairy;
petals 0;
stamens 5–9.
sepals (4–)5, 1–2 mm, abaxial surface stellate-hairy;
petals 5, linear-oblong-lanceolate, 1–1.5 mm, abaxial surface stellate-hairy;
stamens 9–12.
sepals 0;
petals 0;
ovary 1-locular;
style 1, 2–3 mm, unbranched.
sepals 7–8, subequal, 3–6 mm, margins entire, apex straight to slightly incurved, abaxial surface whitish appressed-tomentose;
petals 0;
ovary 3-locular;
styles 3, 3–4 mm, 4-fid, terminal segments 12.
follicular (1-seeded), 3–6 × 2–3 mm, smooth;
columella absent.
6–8 × 6–7 mm, smooth;
columella tipped with 3-pronged grappling hooklike appendage.
3–5 × 2–3 mm, shiny.
4–5 × 2–2.5 mm, shiny.
= 20.
Croton setigerus
Croton heptalon
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.)
Morphological differences among Croton heptalon and its multifid-styled relatives in sect. Heptallon, especially C. capitatus and C. lindheimeri, can be quite subtle. In general, C. heptalon can be distinguished from C. capitatus by its more elongate pistillate part of the inflorescence, non-recurving sepal tips in the pistillate flowers, and more cordate leaf bases on larger basal leaves. Whitish pubescence on its young growth and styles that branch once into four terminal segments distinguish C. heptalon from C. lindheimeri.
Croton muelleri J. M. Coulter, which is an illegitimate name, pertains here.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
CA
OR
WA
Flora NW
PNW Herbaria
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
