Croton sonorae |
Croton soliman |
|
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Sonora croton, Sonoran croton |
Soliman's croton |
|
Habit | Shrubs, 8–16 dm, monoecious. | Shrubs, 5–8 dm, monoecious. |
Stems | much-branched distally, canescent when young, becoming glabrate. |
sparsely branched distally, sparsely stellate-hairy. |
Leaves | sometimes clustered near inflorescences; stipules subulate, to 1 mm; petiole 0.4–1 cm, 1/4–1/2 leaf blade length, glands absent at apex; blade ovate to broadly lanceolate, 0.8–4 × 0.6–2 cm, base cuneate to rounded or cordate, margins entire, not undulate, ciliate-glandular, apex acute to acuminate, abaxial surface pale green, sparsely whitish stellate-hairy, adaxial surface darker green, glabrate. |
not clustered; stipules linear, (0–)1–2 mm, sometimes short stipitate-glandular; petiole 1–2 cm, 2/5–1/2 leaf blade length, glands absent at apex; blade ovate, 2–5 × 1.5–2.5 cm, base rounded-cuneate, margins entire, with scattered glandular-capitate processes 1 mm, usually denser at base, apex acute to acuminate, abaxial surface green, glabrous or sparsely stellate-hairy, usually along margin, adaxial surface slightly darker green, glabrous. |
Inflorescences | bisexual or staminate, racemes, 2–14 cm, staminate flowers 10–25, pistillate flowers 3–5(–8). |
bisexual, racemes, 2–4 cm, staminate flowers 10–30, pistillate flowers 3–6. |
Pedicels | staminate 1–1.5 mm, pistillate 1–4 mm. |
staminate 1–5 mm, pistillate 2–5 mm. |
Staminate flowers | sepals 5, 1–1.5 mm, abaxial surface sparsely stellate-hairy; petals 5, lanceolate, 1.5–2 mm, abaxial surface glabrous except margins villous; stamens 13–16. |
sepals 5, 0.8–1 mm, abaxial surface sparsely stellate-hairy; petals 5, spatulate, 1–1.3 mm, abaxial surface glabrous except margins ciliate basally; stamens 15–20. |
Pistillate flowers | sepals 5, equal, 1.5–2 mm, margins entire, apex incurved, abaxial surface sparsely stellate-hairy; petals papillae, 0.5 mm; ovary 3-locular; styles 3, 2–3 mm, 2-fid, terminal segments 6. |
sepals 5, unequal, 5–6 mm, margins entire, apex straight to slightly incurved, abaxial surface glabrous or with a few stellate hairs; petals 0 or 5, white, linear, 2.5–3.5 mm; ovary 3-locular; styles 3, 3–4 mm, 4-fid, terminal segments 12. |
Capsules | 7–8 × 5–6 mm, smooth; columella apex with 3 rounded, inflated lobes. |
6 × 5–6 mm, smooth; columella apex with 3 rounded, inflated lobes. |
Seeds | 6–7 × 3–4 mm, shiny. |
4–5 × 3–4 mm, shiny. |
Croton sonorae |
Croton soliman |
|
Phenology | Flowering Jul–Sep. | Flowering May–Jul. |
Habitat | Rocky slopes, desert scrub. | Thickets, low ridges. |
Elevation | 500–1100 m. (1600–3600 ft.) | 0–50 m. (0–200 ft.) |
Distribution |
AZ; Mexico (Baja California, Sonora)
|
TX; e Mexico; s Mexico |
Discussion | Croton sonorae is widely distributed in Mexico and extends into southern Arizona in Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Croton soliman is most similar to C. humilis. In the flora area, C. soliman is found only in Cameron County. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 12, p. 223. | FNA vol. 12, p. 223. |
Parent taxa | ||
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | C. attenuatus, C. pringlei | |
Name authority | Torrey: in W. H. Emory, Rep. U.S. Mex. Bound. 2(1): 194. (1859) | Chamisso & Schlechtendal: Linnaea 6: 361. (1831) |
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