Croton splendidus Martius ex Colla (1836: 110)

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 : 258-260

33. Croton splendidus Martius ex Colla (1836: 110) .

Lectotype (designated by Moraes et al. 2014): — BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro: “ad Cabo Frio ”, September 1815, M.A.P. Prinz zu Wied s.n. (39; Menke nr. 39) ( BR 0000005848133 ; isolectotypes BR 0000005848461, E 00326420, MEL 2353825!, P 00634649!) . ( Fig. 17 , K–M)

Croton splendidus can be recognized by its shrubby habit, leaves trichomes (stellate on adaxial surface and subentire lepidote on abaxial surface), and by its globose fruits covered by subentire lepidote trichomes. It is morphologically similar to Croton muellerianus and C. uruguayensis , which have adaxial leaf surface glabrous (see under C. muellerianus ). Some collections of Croton longicarpus have been previously identified as C. splendidus , but these species can be differentiated by their pistillate flowers and fruits (see under C. longicarpus ). Many collections of C. splendidus were identified as C. migrans Casaretto (1845: 88) . Croton migrans was synonymized by Lima & Pirani (2008) under C. splendidus , and we agree with that. Croton splendidus belongs to section Lamprocroton subsect. Lamprocroton .

Distribution and habitat:— It occurs in northeastern (BA), southern (PR, SC) and southeastern (ES, MG, RJ, SP) Brazil ( Caruzo et al. 2020), where it grows in open vegetation at high altitude (‘campo de altitude’), riverbanks, borders of cloud forest, and sometimes in restingas. The species grows mainly between 1000 to 1600 m elevation in Paraná ( Fig. 18 ).

Phenology:— Flowering throughout the year, and fruiting from January, February, April, July, October and November.

Representative specimens:— PARANÁ: Bocaiúva do Sul, Estrada para a Serra da Bocaina , 19 August 2004, J. M . Silva & G . Hatschbach 4090 ( HCF, HUFU, MBM). Campina Grande do Sul , Pico Capivari Grande, 19 January 2016, A. P. N . Pereira , E . D. Lozano , B. K . Canestraro , D. P . Saridakis & P. C . Ferreira 21 ( SP). Palmeira, 29 August 1979, L. T . Dombrowski 10639 ( HCF). Quatro Barras, Morro do Anhangava , 01 November 1996, E. P . Santos , H . Meneses & R . Anjos 157 ( UPCB). Telêmaco Borba, Fazenda Monte Alegre , 15 April 2009, J. S . Silva , M. F . Silveira , R. T . Queiroz , A. J. C . Silva & L. C . Garcia 565 (ESA, RB).

Figures

FIGURE 17. Croton serpyllifolius. A. Habit. B. Staminate flower. C. Pistillate flower. D. Detail of twice bifid styles. E. Capsule. C. serratifolius. F. Young branch. G. Stipules with multiple glandular colleters. H. Inflorescence. I. Pistillate flower. J. Young capsule showing the stalked green colleters along the margins of the sepals. C. splendidus. K. Habit. L. Pistillate flower. M. Capsule. Photos: A.P.N. Pereira.

FIGURE 18. Map showing the known geographic distributions of Croton splendidus, C. subvillosus, C. thermarum, and C. tricolor in Paraná state.