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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
from FNA
AZ; Mexico (Baja California, Sonora)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
TX; e Mexico; s Mexico
[BONAP county map]
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 Euphorbiaceae > Croton 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. setigerus, C. soliman, C. suaveolens, C. texensis, C. wigginsii
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. setigerus, C. sonorae, C. suaveolens, C. texensis, C. wigginsii
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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