Croton

• Authority

  Britton, Nathaniel L. & Millspaugh, Charles F. 1920. The Bahama Flora.

• Family

  Euphorbiaceae

• Scientific Name

  Croton

• Description

  Description - Herbs, shrubs or trees, strong-scented, often stellate-pubescent. Leaves mostly alternate, sometimes with two glands at the base of the blade. Flowers spicate or racemose. Staminate flowers uppermost: calyx 4-6-parted (usually 5-parted); petals usually present but small or rudimentary, alternating with glands; stamens 5 or more. Pistillate flowers: calyx 5-10-parted; petals usually wanting; ovary mostly 3-eelled; ovule 1 in each cavity; styles once, twice or many times cleft. Fruit capsular. Seeds carunculate. [Greek name of the Castor-oil plant.] Over 600 species, widely distributed. Type species: Croton Tiglium L.