Croton suaveolens |
Croton sancti-lazari |
|
---|---|---|
scented croton |
trans-Pecos croton |
|
Habit | Shrubs, 2–5 dm, monoecious. | Shrubs, 1–4 dm, dioecious. |
Stems | dichotomously much branched proximally, coarsely stellate-tomentose. |
much branched proximally, coarsely stellate-tomentose. |
Leaves | often clustered near inflorescences; stipules each 5–10 glandular papillae, 0.2–0.5 mm; petiole 0.5–1.5 cm, 1/4 leaf blade length, glands absent at apex; blade obovate or ovate to broadly elliptic, 2–5.4 × 1–3.6 cm, base obtuse, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute, abaxial surface pale green to cream, adaxial surface darker green, both densely stellate-hairy. |
not clustered; stipules each 1 glandular papilla, 0.1 mm; petiole 0.1–0.4(–0.6) cm, 1/10–1/5 blade length, glands absent at apex; blade ovate to elliptic-ovate, 1–3(–4.5) × 0.5–1.5(–2) cm, base usually rounded to obtuse, rarely acute, margins entire, apex acute or rounded, abaxial surface pale green to pale yellow, stellate-tomentose, adaxial surface darker green, stellate-tomentose. |
Inflorescences | bisexual or staminate, racemes, 1–3 cm, staminate flowers 6–10, pistillate flowers 1–3. |
unisexual; staminate racemes, 1–3.3 cm, flowers 1–8; pistillate congested racemes, 0.1–0.3 cm, flowers 1–3. |
Pedicels | staminate 3–5 mm, pistillate 1–2 mm. |
staminate 1 mm, pistillate 0–0.5 mm. |
Staminate flowers | sepals 5, 2 mm, abaxial surface stellate-hairy; petals 5, spatulate or obovate, 0.4–0.6 mm, abaxial surface densely villous at base and along margins, otherwise glabrous; stamens 12–16. |
sepals (4–)5, 2 mm, abaxial surface stellate-hairy; petals (4–)5, narrowly oblanceolate, 1.8–2 mm, abaxial surface nearly glabrous; stamens 9–12. |
Pistillate flowers | sepals 5, equal, 2.5 mm, margins entire, apex straight to slightly incurved, abaxial surface stellate-hairy; petals glandular papillae; ovary 3-locular; styles 3, 4–6 mm, 2-fid to base, terminal segments 6. |
sepals 5, equal, 1 mm, margins entire, apex straight to slightly incurved, abaxial surface stellate-hairy; petals 0 or rudimentary; ovary 3-locular; styles 3, 1.5–2 mm, 2-fid to base, terminal segments 6. |
Capsules | 7–10 × 6–8 mm, smooth; columella apex with 3 rounded, inflated lobes. |
4–5 × 5.5–6 mm, smooth; columella apex with 3 rounded, inflated lobes. |
Seeds | 5.5–7 × 4–5 mm, shiny. |
3.6–4.7 × 2.8–3.4 mm, shiny. |
Croton suaveolens |
Croton sancti-lazari |
|
Phenology | Flowering Apr–Nov. | Flowering Oct–Nov. |
Habitat | Rocky slopes, foothills. | Rocky hillsides. |
Elevation | 1500–2000 m. (4900–6600 ft.) | 900–1200 m. (3000–3900 ft.) |
Distribution |
TX; Mexico (Coahuila, Chihuahua, Nuevo León) |
TX; Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila) |
Discussion | Croton suaveolens is found in the flora area only in trans-Pecos Texas. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Croton sancti-lazari in the flora area grows only in Brewster and Presidio counties. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 12, p. 224. | FNA vol. 12, p. 222. |
Parent taxa | ||
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | C. abruptus | |
Name authority | Torrey: in W. H. Emory, Rep. U.S. Mex. Bound. 2(1): 194. (1859) | Croizat: J. Arnold Arbor. 26: 185. (1945) |
Web links |