Cascarilla

Title

Cascarilla

Authors

Ethan H. Freid

Scientific Name

Croton eluteria (L.) W.Wright

Description

Habit

Croton eluteria grows as a shrub to small tree up to four meters in height. The young stems are covered with brown lepidote scales. The leaves are arranged alternately, have an ovate shape and are up to eight centimeters in length. The leaves are covered with silvery brown lepidote scales on the lower side as well as pellucid punctate glands.

The flowers are arranged in axillary or terminal racemes. The flowers are either staminate or carpellate occurring on separate individuals (Dioecious). Staminate flowers have five unfused sepals in the calyx, five unfused petals in the corolla, eight to twelve stamens and no carpel. Carpellate flowers have five unfused sepals in the calyx, five unfused white petals in the corolla and no stamens. The fruit is a three parted capsule.

Habitat

Croton eluteria grows on a limestone substrate in Dry Broadleaf Evergreen Formations (Coppice) most typically in Shrublands.

Distribution in Bahamas/Globally

Croton eluteria occurs throughout the islands of the Bahamas, the Caribbean region, Mexico and South America. It has been transported to Nigeria where it is cultivated for bark production.

Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage

Croton eluteria is used medicinally to treat issues of appetite, coughs, diarrhea, flu, indigestion, stomach pain, and to prevent vomiting. The bark and leaves can be used as an inhalant to clear sinuses and the leaves are used in bath water to refresh the body. The bark of Croton eluteria is also used as a flavoring of the liquor Campari.