Croton setigerus
Croton monanthogynus
dove weed, fish poison, turkey mullein
one-seed croton, prairie tea
densely and dichotomously shortly branched, forming loose, prostrate circular mats 5–80 cm across, proximally bristly stellate-hairy, central radii spreading, 2–3 mm.
dichotomously branched from near base, stellate-hairy, some stellate hairs with dark brown centers.
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.
sometimes clustered near inflorescences;
stipules glandlike, 0.1–0.3 mm;
petiole 0.3–1.5 cm, glands absent at apex;
blade ovate-oblong to nearly round (proximal) to narrowly elliptic (distal), 1–3.5 × 0.5–3 cm, base obtuse to rounded or truncate, margins entire, apex rounded to acute, abaxial surface pale green, sparsely whitish stellate-hairy and appearing brown-dotted, some hairs with dark brown centers, adaxial surface darker green, densely stellate-hairy, hairs without brown centers.
unisexual;
staminate dense capitate clusters, 1–2 cm, flowers 2–10;
pistillate clusters, 1–2 cm, flowers 1–3.
bisexual or sometimes pistillate, congested racemes, 0.3–1 cm, staminate flowers 3–10, pistillate flowers 1–2(–5).
staminate 0–1 mm, pistillate absent.
staminate 0.5–2 mm, pistillate 1–2.5 mm (2–3 mm and recurved in fruit).
sepals 5–6, 2–2.5 mm, abaxial surface densely stellate-hairy;
petals 0;
stamens 5–9.
sepals 3–5, 0.7–1 mm, abaxial surface stellate-hairy;
petals 3–5, narrowly elliptic-oblanceolate, 0.7–1 mm, abaxial surface glabrous except margins villous;
stamens 3–5.
sepals 0;
petals 0;
ovary 1-locular;
style 1, 2–3 mm, unbranched.
sepals 5, subequal, 1.5–2 mm, margins entire, apex straight to slightly incurved, abaxial surface stellate-hairy, some hairs with dark brown centers;
petals 0;
ovary 2-locular, 1 fertile;
styles 2, 0.8–1.2(–1.5) mm, 2-fid to base, terminal segments 4.
follicular (1-seeded), 3–6 × 2–3 mm, smooth;
columella absent.
appearing follicular (1-seeded), 3.5–4.5 × 1.8–2.2 mm, smooth;
columella ± curved, apparently deciduous upon dehiscence of capsule.
3–5 × 2–3 mm, shiny.
2.5–3.3 × 2–2.5 mm, shiny.
= 20.
= 20.
Croton setigerus
Croton monanthogynus
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 monanthogynus may be adventive in the northernmost states.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
CA
OR
WA
Flora NW
PNW Herbaria
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
IL Wildflowers
KS Wildflowers
LA Plants
MD Biodiversity
MI Flora
MO Plants
