Croton glandulosus Linnaeus (1759: 1275)

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 : 246

14. Croton glandulosus Linnaeus (1759: 1275) .

Lectotype (designated by Fawcett & Rendle 1920): — JAMAICA. s.loc., s.d., P. Browne s.n. ( LINN 1140.7 !). ( Fig. 7 , J–L)

A subshrub often confused with C. lundianus , but they can be differentiated by their inflorescences (staminate and pistillate flowers contiguous in C. glandulosus vs. staminate and pistillate flowers separated by a sterile zone in C. lundianus ). Croton lundianus also resembles C. glechomifolius , a prostrate subshrub, with reniform leaves, and fruits facing the ground, whereas C. glandulosus is an erect subshrub, with elliptic to ovate leaves, and bearing fruits on erect axes. The species most similar to C. glandulosus is probably C. trinitatis , however, they can be distinguished mainly by the pistillate flowers (sessile in C. glandulosus vs. conspicuously pedicellate in C. trinitatis ). Furthermore, capsules can be a good character for identification, as observed by Sodré et al. (2019) (green with white lines on the sutures in C. glandulosus vs. greenish or orange without lines in C. trinitatis ). Croton glandulosus belongs to section Geiseleria subsect. Geiseleria ( Gray 1856: 391) van Ee & Berry (2021: 135) .

Distribution and habitat:— It occurs in the U.S.A., Mexico, the Caribbean, and the rest of tropical America, and it has been introduced in the Old World tropics ( Riina et al. 2021). In Brazil, it is found in all states and Distrito Federal ( Caruzo et al. 2020). Often weedy subshrubs commonly found in open vegetation (‘campos limpos’, ‘sujos’, ‘cerrados’) and seldom edges of forests, between 200 and 920 m elevation. ( Fig. 8 ).

Phenology:— Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Representative specimens:— PARANÁ: Campo Mourão, 09 December 1960, G . Hatschbach 7685 ( MBM). Paranaguá, Saquarema , 23 May 1985, J . Cordeiro & J. M . Silva 46 ( MBM). Ponta Grossa , Santa Mônica, 28 May 2010, R . Ristow & S . Homan 626 ( MBM). Sengés, Rio do Funil (Fazenda Morungava), G . Hatschbach 5074 ( MBM). Tuneiras do Oeste , Cerrado alterado, acesso pela BR-487, 23°54’39,18”S, 52°45’17.15”W, 524 m, 19 October 2016, A. P. N . Pereira, F. S . Petrongari e O. L. M . Silva 36 ( SP) .

Figures

FIGURE 7. Croton floribundus. A. Clear latex. B. Stipules. C. Inflorescences. D. Pistillate flowers with multifid styles. E. Muricate capsule. C. fuscus. F. Habit. G. Infloresence with unisexual lower cymules. H. Pistillate flower with tetrafid styles. I. Fruits showing stipitate glands (colleters) on the persistent sepals. C. glandulosus. J. Staminate flowers. K. Pistillate flowers. L. Capsules. Photos:A.P.N. Pereira, E: O.L.M. Silva.

FIGURE 8. Map showing the known geographic distributions of Croton fuscus, C. glandulosus, C. glechomifolius, and C. gracilipes in Paraná state.