Home | > | List of families | > | Euphorbiaceae | > | Croton | > | gratissimus |
Synonyms: |
Croton welwitschianus Müll. Arg. Croton zambesicus Müll. Arg. |
Common names: | Lavender croton (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Shrub or small tree; trunk usually Y-forked with drooping branches; branches often in whorls of 3. Young twigs rusty to fulvous stellate-hairy. Leaves aromatic when crushed, elliptic, elliptic-lanceolate or narrowly oblong-lanceolate, 1.5–18 cm long, rounded to shallowly cordate at the base, with a pair of sessile to long-stalked basal glands on the lower surface, hairless and deep green to midgreen above (var. gratissimus), densely silvery-hairy with rusty spots or fulvous stellate-hairy beneath; midrib usually impressed above, prominent beneath; petiole up to 7 cm long. Racemes up to 15 cm long, terminal, with both male and female flowers or all male flowers. Flowers unisexual, creamy yellow, usually on the same tree and in the same inflorescence, rarely on different trees. Fruit subglobose and somewhat 3-lobed, 8–11 mm wide, densely greenish- or yellowish- to silvery-hairy with brown spots. |
Notes: | Flower buds are present on the trees throughout the dry season but only open after the first rains. |
Derivation of specific name: | |
Habitat: | Over a wide range of habitat and altitudes, often associated with rocky terrain. |
Altitude range: | 90 - 1525 m |
Flowering time: | Sep - Nov |
Worldwide distribution: | Widespread in tropical Africa, occuring in 3 disjunct areas in W, NE and southern Africa |
Mozambique distribution: | T,MS,GI,M |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | Epiphora mythimnia (Larval foodplant) |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Content last updated: | Friday 23 July 2010 |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 437. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 18. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 11. Curtis, B.A. & Mannheimer, C.A. (2005). Tree Atlas of Namibia National Botanic Research Institute, Windhoek Pages 326 - 327. (Includes a picture). Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 55. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 251. Mannheimer, C. & Curtis B. (2009). Le Roux and Müller's Field Guide to the Trees and Shrubs of Namibia Macmillan Education, Windhoek, Namibia. Pages 254 - 255. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 41. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 48. as Croton gratissimus Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 61. as Croton gratissimus (Includes a picture). Radcliffe-Smith, A. (1996). Euphorbiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(4) Pages 279 - 281. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 56. Steedman, E.C. (1933). Some Trees, Shrubs and Lianes of Southern Rhodesia. Page 35. Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 207. |
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