Croton chaetophorus Müller Argoviensis (1865: 130)

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 : 240-242

7. Croton chaetophorus Müller Argoviensis (1865: 130) .

Lectotype (designated here): — BRAZIL. “Brasilia meridionalis”, s.d., F. Sellow s.n. ( BR 0000008765802 !) ; idem, F. Sellow s.n. (original syntype B†). Remaining syntypes: — BRAZIL. Minas Gerais:“ad Caldas”, September, A.F. Regnell I 398 ( A 00257902 !, B†, BR 0000006993894 !, BR 0000006994525 !, G 00434438 !, MEL 2324385 !, P 00623099 !, P 00623100 !, S-R-10502!, US 01050272); s. loc., L. Riedel s.n. (B†). ( Fig. 5 , A–F)

Croton chaetophorus is a subshrub with pistillate sepals covered by glands (apparently colleters), except at the base, which is a useful character for its identification. Bracts are lanceolate-rhombic and, due to their morphology, they totally cover the flower buds. The species can be confused with C. serratifolius , however, the bracts and stipules of C. chaetophorus do not have glands, its leaves are ovate to ovate-lanceolate, whereas, in C. serratifolius , bracts and stipules have glands along the margin, and the leaves are elliptic to oblong. The species is a member of Croton sect. Barhamia subsect. Medea ( van Ee et al. 2011) .

Distribution and habitat:— It occurs in southern (PR, SC) and southeastern (MG, SP) Brazil ( Smith et al. 1988, Caruzo et al. 2019). Plants grow in open vegetation (‘campos sujos’), edges of forest and, rarely, in ‘banhados’, between 980 and 1090 m elevation ( Fig. 2 ).

Phenology:— Flowering and fruiting from October to February.

Representative specimens:— PARANÁ: Clevelandia , 21 November 1972, G . Hatschbach 30807 ( MBM). Jaguariaíva, Estrada para acesso ao Parque Estadual do Cerrado , 21 October 2016, A. P. N . Pereira , F. S . Petrongari & O. L. M . Silva 40 ( SP). Ortigueira, Rio Capivary Grande , 17 October 1965, G . Hatschbach 13038 ( K, MBM, P). Prudentópolis, Relógio, 11 April 1965, G . Hatschbach 12524 ( MBM). Turvo, Vegetação Ciliar do Rio Turvo , 25°02’40.1” S, 51°32’50.1” W, M. G . Caxambu 2601 ( HCF, MBM) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Map showing the known geographic distributions of Croton aberrans, C. antisyphiliticus, C. bonplandianus, and C. calycireduplicatus in Paraná state.

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.