Croton texensis

(Klotzsch) Müller Arg.

in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 15(2): 692. 1866.

Common names: Skunkweed Texas croton
WeedyIllustrated
Basionym: Hendecandra texensis Klotzsch Arch. Naturgesch. (Berlin) 7: 252. 1841
Synonyms: Croton luteovirens Wooton & Standley C. texensis var. utahensis Cronquist C. virens Müller Arg.
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 12. Treatment on page 224. Mentioned on page 208, 221.

Herbs, annual, 2–7(–9) dm, dioecious. Stems loosely branched distally, stellate-hairy. Leaves not clustered; stipules absent; petiole 0.3–2 cm, glands absent at apex; blade narrowly ovate-oblong to linear-lanceolate, 1–5 × 0.5–2 cm, base truncate to rounded or subcordate, margins entire, apex rounded to acute, abaxial surface pale green, densely whitish appressed stellate-hairy, adaxial surface darker green, less hairy. Inflorescences unisexual; staminate racemes or irregularly branched panicles, 2–8 cm, flowers 10–30; pistillate racemes, 1–2 cm, flowers 1–6. Pedicels: staminate 2–3 mm, pistillate 1–3 mm. Staminate flowers: sepals 5, 1–2 mm, abaxial surface densely whitish appressed stellate-hairy; petals 0; stamens 8–12. Pistillate flowers: sepals 5, equal, 1–1.5 mm, margins entire, apex incurved, abaxial surface densely stipitate-stellate-hairy; petals 0; ovary 3-locular; styles 3, 1–2 mm, multifid, terminal segments 12–32+. Capsules 5–8 × 4–5.5 mm, verrucose; columella 3-winged. Seeds 3.5–4 × 2.5–3 mm, shiny. 2n = 28.


Phenology: Flowering Jun–Nov.
Habitat: Prairies, sandy creek beds, old fields, canyons, disturbed areas.
Elevation: 50–2000 m.

Distribution

V12 405-distribution-map.jpg

Ala., Ariz., Colo., Del., Fla., Ill., Iowa, Kans., Md., Mo., Nebr., N.Mex., Okla., S.Dak., Tex., Utah, W.Va., Wis., Wyo., Mexico (Chihuahua, Sonora).

Discussion

Croton texensis, despite being annual, grows larger than the related perennial C. dioicus. Croton texensis has verrucose fruits similar to those of the closely related C. parksii.

There is a single specimen of Croton texensis from Massachusetts, collected at a dump in Boston in 1890, but the species did not become established there.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Croton texensis"
Benjamin W. van Ee +  and Paul E. Berry +
(Klotzsch) Müller Arg. +
Hendecandra texensis +
Skunkweed +  and Texas croton +
Ala. +, Ariz. +, Colo. +, Del. +, Fla. +, Ill. +, Iowa +, Kans. +, Md. +, Mo. +, Nebr. +, N.Mex. +, Okla. +, S.Dak. +, Tex. +, Utah +, W.Va. +, Wis. +, Wyo. +, Mexico (Chihuahua +  and Sonora). +
50–2000 m. +
Prairies, sandy creek beds, old fields, canyons, disturbed areas. +
Flowering Jun–Nov. +
in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. +
Weedy +  and Illustrated +
Croton luteovirens +, C. texensis var. utahensis +  and C. virens +
Croton texensis +
species +