Croton chamaepitys Baillon (1864: 356)

Pereira, Amanda Da Paixão Noronha, Riina, Ricarda & Caruzo, Maria Beatriz Rossi, 2022, Croton (Euphorbiaceae) of the Brazilian state of Paraná: an annotated checklist, species distribution, and identification key, Phytotaxa 570 (3), pp. 231-274 : 242

8. Croton chamaepitys Baillon (1864: 356) .

Lectotype (designated here): — URUGUAY. No locality, 1816, A. SaintHilaire C2 2117 ( P 00634655 !, isolectotypes P 00634656!, P 00634657!) .

Croton chamaepitys is a shrub with tiny ovate to broadly elliptic leaves, and yellowish to orange indumentum formed by stellate-stipitate and stellate-lepidote trichomes. Here we agree with Ahumada (1991) delimitation of C. chamaepitis , recognizing it as distinct from C. pycnocephalus , a morphologically similar species. The species is also similar to C. serpyllifolius due the tiny leaves and style division (see Table 1 ). The species belongs to sect. Lamprocroton . subsect. Argentini van Ee & Berry (2011: 93) ( van Ee & Berry 2011).

Distribution and habitat:— It occurs in Uruguay and Brazil (RS, PR) ( Caruzo et al. 2020). The species has only been found in a single locality in Paraná (Lagoa Seca, district of Candói). It grows on rocky outcrops, probably at 950 m elevation ( Fig. 4 ).

Phenology:— Flowering and fruiting from August and October.

Representative specimens:— PARANÁ: Candói , Lagoa Seca, 26 October 2006, E . Barbosa & E. M . Cunha 1752 ( MBM).Additional specimen: — RIO GRANDE DO SUL: Bossoroca , 28°44’49” S, 54°51’25” W, 07 September 2012, F . Gonzatti 556 ( HUCS, R) .

Figures

FIGURE 4. Map showing the known geographic distributions of Croton ceanothifolius, C. celtidifolius, C. chaetophorus, and C. chamaepitis in Paraná state.