Croton (genus)

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Croton is an extensive plant genus of the family Euphorbiaceae established by Carolus Linnaeus in 1737. The common names for this genus are rushfoil and croton, but this latter also refers to Codiaeum variegatum. The genus name comes from Greek Kroton, which means ticks, because of the seeds' resemblance to ticks.

The best known member of this genus is probably Croton tiglium, commonly called croton, a tree or shrub native to Southeast Asia. Croton oil, used in herbal medicine as a violent purgative, is extracted from its seeds. Nowadays, it is considered unsafe and it is no longer listed in the pharmacopeias of many countries.

Croton oil has found recent usage as the active ingredient in facial-rejuvenating chemical peels when used in a phenol-based solution, thanks to its caustic exfoliating effect on the dermal layer of the skin.

Croton species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Schinia citrinellus, which feeds exclusively on the plant.

Cascarilla (Croton eleuteria) is found exclusively in the Bahama Islands. It is a small tree, rarely reaching 20 feet in height, with scanty, alternate, ovate-lanceolate leaves, averaging 2 inches long, closely scaled below, giving a metallic silver-bronze appearance, with scattered white scales above. The flowers are small, with white petals, and very fragrant, appearing in March and April. The scented bark is fissured and pale yellowish brown. Its pungent-smelling bark is used as a flavoring, principally for liquers such as Campari.

Distribution

The genus is pantropical.

Synonyms

This genus is also known under a lot of other names:

• Agelandra Engl. & Pax
• Aldinia Raf.
• Angelandra Endl.
• Anisepta Raf.
• Anisophyllum Boivin ex Baill.
• Argyra Noronha ex Baill.
• Argyrodendron (Endl.) Klotzsch (non. F. Muell.)
• Astraea Klotzsch
• Astrogyne Benth.
• Aubertia Chapel. ex Baill.
• Banalia Raf.
• Barhamia Klotzsch
• Brachystachys Klotzsch
• Calypteriopetalon Hassk.
• Cascarilla Adans.
• Centrandra H.Karst.
• Cieca Adans.
• Cleodora Klotzsch
• Codonocalyx Klotzsch ex Baill.
• Comatocroton H.Karst.
• Crotonanthus Klotzsch ex Schltdl.
• Crotonopsis Michx.
• Cyclostigma Klotzsch
• Decarinium Raf.
• Drepadenium Raf.
• Eluteria Steud.
• Engelmannia Klotzsch
• Eremocarpus Benth.
• Eutrophia Klotzsch
• Friesia Spreng.
• Furcaria Boivin ex Baill.
• Geiseleria Klotzsch
• Gynamblosis Torr.
• Halecus Raf.
• Hendecandras Eschsch.
• Heptallon Raf.
• Heterochlamys Turcz.
• Heterocroton S.Moore
• Julocroton Mart.
• Klotzschiphytum Baill.
• Kurkas Raf.
• Lasiogyne Klotzsch
• Leptemon Raf.
• Leucadenia Klotzsch ex Baill.
• Luntia Neck. ex Raf.
• Macrocroton Klotzsch
• Medea Klotzsch
• Merleta Raf.
• Monguia Chapel. ex Baill.
• Myriogomphus Didr.
• Ocalia Klotzsch
• Oxydectes Kuntze
• Palanostigma Mart. ex Klotzsch
• Penteca Raf.
• Pilinophyton Klotzsch
• Piscaria Piper
• Pleopadium Raf.
• Podostachys Klotzsch
• Saipania Hosok.
• Schradera Willd.
• Semilta Raf.
• Tiglium Klotzsch
• Timandra Klotzsch
• Tridesmis Lour.
• Triplandra Raf.
• Vandera Raf.

External links

• http://www.botany.wisc.edu/croton/
• http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/c/croto118.html

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Last updated on Saturday March 08, 2008 at 12:52:16 PST (GMT -0800)
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