Croton eichleri Müller Argoviensis (1873: 272)

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 : 242-243

10. Croton eichleri Müller Argoviensis (1873: 272) .

Lectotype (designated by Santos et al. 2017): — BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: “ Habitat ad Porto do Rio Cervo inter Ouro fino et Caldas ”, s.d., A.F. Regnell II 242 ( P 00623149 ; isolectotypes P 00623148!, A 00257923!, BR 0000008766496!, BR 0000008766823!, C 10011167!, F 0056120F!, F 0093628F!, S 07-12794!, S 07-12795!, S 07-12796!, S 07-12797, US 00902151!, US 00902150!). ( Fig. 5 , J–O)

This tree can be recognized by its stipitate acropetiolar nectary glands, reduplicate-valvate aestivation on staminate and pistillate flowers, and strongly muricate fruits. Some specimens of Croton eichleri have been identified erroneously in herbaria as C. floribundus . However, these species differ by the presence of acropetiolar nectary glands (present in C. eichleri vs. absent in C. floribundus ), leaf base (cordate in C. eichleri vs. rounded in C. floribundus ), staminate flowers aestivation (reduplicate-valvate in C. eichleri vs. valvate in C. floribundus ), and style division (tetrafid in C. eichleri vs. multifid in C. floribundus ). The species is a member of Croton sect. Prisci ( van Ee et al. 2011) .

Distribution and habitat:— It occurs in southern (PR) and southeastern (MG, RJ) Brazil ( Santos et al. 2017, Caruzo et al. 2020), along edges of semideciduous seasonal forest, between 600 and 920 m elevation ( Fig. 6 ).

Phenology:— Flowering from October to December, and fruiting in February.

Representative specimens:— BRAZIL. Paraná: Jaguariaíva, fazenda para acesso ao Rio das Mortes, 24°13’43.06”S, 49°39’05.36”W, 918 m, 22 October 2016, A. P. N . Pereira, F. S . Petrongari & O. L. M . Silva 43 ( SP). Pitanga, Propriedade de Eugênio Pedrini , 13 December 2005, M. G . Caxambu 940 ( CGMS, DVPR, HCF). Ortigueira , 15 December 2011, R. A . Bonaldi 492 ( RB, SP). Idem, Vila Palmital , 10 December 2012, M . Selusniaki & E . D. Lozano 3509 ( HCF). São Jerônimo da Serra , Sítio Três Meninas, 07 December 1999, O. C . Pavão s.n. ( FUEL 28341 ) .

Figures

FIGURE 5. Croton chaetophorus. A. Habit. B. Inflorescence with pistillate flowers at the base. C. Staminate flowers. D. Pistillate flowers, note the sepals with green glands (colleters). E. Young capsules. F. Mature capsule, with conspicuous dried colleters on the sepals. C. didrichsenii. G. Habit. H. Congested inflorescence. I. Xylopodium. C. eichleri. J. Habit. K. Stipules. L. Cylindrical acropetiolar nectary glands. M. Reduplicate-valvate sepals of a pistillate flower bud. N. Pistillate flower with tetrafid styles. O. Muricate capsules. Photos: A–N: A.P.N. Pereira, O: R.F. Santos.

FIGURE 6. Map showing the known geographic distributions of Croton didrichsenii, C. eichleri, C. floribundus and C. fulvus in Paraná state.