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Euphorbiaceae
Croton

not marked as a favorite taxon Croton willdenowii G.L. Webster. Common name: Glade Rushfoil, Outcrop Rushfoil, Broadleaf Rushfoil, Willdenow's Croton. Phenology: Jun-Oct. Habitat: Granitic flatrocks, diabase barrens, calcareous barrens, thin soils around other rock outcrops, open woodlands, disturbed sandy soil. Distribution: Connecticut, se. Pennsylvania (Rhoads & Block 2007), Illinois, and se. Kansas, south to ne. Florida, Panhandle Florida, and Texas.

Glossary (beta!)

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: Van Ee & Berry (2009) argued that this taxon is only varietally distinct from Croton michauxii (see synonymy).

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, Fl2, K1, K4, NS, POWO, Tn, Va, WH3, Webster (1992); = Croton michauxii G.L.Webster var. elliptica (Willd.) B.W.van Ee & P.E.Berry — FNA12, van Ee & Berry (2009); = Crotonopsis elliptica Willdenow — C, F, G, GrPl, Il, NE, Pa, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tx, W. Basionym: Croton willdenowii G.L.Webster 1992 "Urbasionym:" Crotonopsis elliptica Willdenow 1805

Links to other floras: = Croton michauxii var. elliptica - FNA12

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Heliophily ⓘ: 9

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image #1 of Croton willdenowii© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Croton willdenowii© abelkinser, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Croton willdenowii© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Croton willdenowii© Nathan Aaron, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nathan Aaron source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Croton willdenowii© abelkinser, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Croton willdenowii© abelkinser, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #8 of Croton willdenowii© Theo Witsell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Theo Witsell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #9 of Croton willdenowii© Nathan Aaron, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nathan Aaron source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image #10 of Croton willdenowii© Theo Witsell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Theo Witsell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #11 of Croton willdenowii© Theo Witsell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Theo Witsell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #12 of Croton willdenowii© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #13 of Croton willdenowii© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
image #14 of Croton willdenowii© Theo Witsell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Theo Witsell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect to leaning, sometimes bushy annual found on granitic flatrocks, diabase barrens, calcareous barrens, thin soils around other rock outcrops and disturbed, sandy soil.

Stems: Stems branched, densely covered with silvery scales with reddish-brown centers.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, short-petiolate to sessile, linear to elliptic, to 1 1/2 in. long, folded during dry weather, upper surface green and covered with star-shaped hairs.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers separate in small, fuzzy clusters at stem ends, with male and female flowers separate; male flowers at summit of short spikes, consisting of 5 tiny petals, 5 tiny sepals and 5 stamens; female flowers at base of spikes, consisting a tiny 3- to 5-lobed calyx (no petals) and 2 divided styles.

Fruits: Fruit a tiny, ellipsoid capsule sparsely covered with star-shaped hairs.

Comments: The similar Croton michauxii differs in having slightly longer flower clusters (1/3-1 1/2 in. vs. less than 1/3 in.) and fuzzier fruits.

Height: 6-14 in.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect to leaning, sometimes bushy annual found on granitic flatrocks, diabase barrens, calcareous barrens, thin soils around other rock outcrops and disturbed, sandy soil.

stems: Stems branched, densely covered with silvery scales with reddish-brown centers.

leaves: Leaves alternate, short-petiolate to sessile, linear to elliptic, to 1 1/2 in. long, folded during dry weather, upper surface green and covered with star-shaped hairs.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers separate in small, fuzzy clusters at stem ends, with male and female flowers separate; male flowers at summit of short spikes, consisting of 5 tiny petals, 5 tiny sepals and 5 stamens; female flowers at base of spikes, consisting a tiny 3- to 5-lobed calyx (no petals) and 2 divided styles.

fruits: Fruit a tiny, ellipsoid capsule sparsely covered with star-shaped hairs.

comments: The similar Croton michauxii differs in having slightly longer flower clusters (1/3-1 1/2 in. vs. less than 1/3 in.) and fuzzier fruits.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: