Croton salutaris Casaretto (1845: 89)

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 : 257

29. Croton salutaris Casaretto (1845: 89) .

Lectotype (designated by Delprete et al. 2019): BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro: Serra dos Órgãos , May 1839, G. Casaretto 856 (TO, isolectotype G-DC 00311745!). ( Fig. 15 , J–L)

Of all the tree species of Croton present in Paraná, C. salutaris is the only one covered exclusively by lepidote trichomes, which confer the silvery coloration of young branches and leaves. The species is also unique among the Croton species from Paraná in having urceolate pistillate flowers. It belongs to sect. Cleodora subsect. Sphaerogyni Caruzo (2011: 204) ( Caruzo et al. 2011).

Distribution and habitat:— It occurs in southern (PR) and southeastern (ES, MG, RJ, SP) Brazil ( Caruzo & Cordeiro 2013, Caruzo et al. 2020). It grows in montane wet forests and riparian forest. In Paraná, the species is only known from a single collection, between 800 and 1000 m elevation, close to the boundary with the State of São Paulo, possibly representing its southernmost population ( Fig. 16 ).

Phenology:— Flowering from January.

Representative specimens:— PARANÁ: Adrianópolis, Parque Estadual das Lauráceas, 01 January 2000, I . Isernhagen 235 (UPCB). SÃO PAULO: Cunha, Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar , Núcleo Cunha-Indaiá, 30 November 2004, M. B. R . Caruzo, I. Cordeiro, S.E. Martins & L. Rossi 81 (SP, SPF).

Figures

FIGURE 15. Croton myrianthus. A. Branches with silvery leaves. B. Capsules. C. pycnocephalus. C. Inflorescence. D. Habit. C. sanctaecrucis. E. Inflorescence. F. Leaf with sessile nectary gland. G. Staminate flowers. H. Pistillate flowers with bifid styles. I. Capsules. C. salutaris. J. Cut in the bark showing red latex. K. Leaf with stipitate nectary glands. L. Urceolate pistillate flowers. Photos: A–I: A.P.N. Pereira, J, L: R. Riina, K: O.L.M. Silva.

FIGURE 16. Map showing the known geographic distributions of Croton salutaris, C. sanctae-crucis, C.serpyllifolius, and C. serratifolius in Paraná state.