Croton macrostachyus
| Croton macrostachyus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Euphorbiaceae |
| Genus: | Croton |
| Species: | C. macrostachyus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Croton macrostachyus Hochst. ex Delile
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Croton macrostachyus is a species of flowering plant native to the mountains of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Description
Croton macrostachyus is a deciduous tree. It generally grows 6 to 12 meters tall, and occasionally up to 30 meters. It has a spreading, rounded, and open crown, and a cylindrical bole which can grow up to 100 cm in diameter.[3]
Range and habitat
Croton macrostachyus ranges across the mountains of Sub-Saharan Africa, including the
It inhabits
Ecology
Croton macrostachyus is a food plant for the butterfly Charaxes candiope[4] and the moths Nudaurelia gueinzii and Stomphastis heringi.[5]
Uses
Croton macrostachyus has a wide range of uses, including timber, agroforestry, medicine, and as an ornamental plant.[3]
The plant is fast-growing and drought-tolerant, and is used in reforestation projects, for erosion control, and as a shade tree in coffee plantations. Its flowers are attractive to bees, and its leaves are used for mulch and green manure to improve soil. It is also used as a hedge or an ornamental and shade tree in gardens.[3]
Its wood is cream-colored, moderately soft, of medium weight, and perishable. It is used for carpentry, boxes, crates, and tools, but more frequently for fuel and charcoal.[3]
The plant is somewhat toxic, but most parts of the plant are used for a variety of medical treatments, particularly for ridding the body of parasites and toxins and treating skin conditions. Juice from crushed leaves is used as an
References
- ^ The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T146216193A146216195. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T146216193A146216195.en. Accessed 25 November 2022.
- ^ a b Croton macrostachyus Hochst. ex Delile Plants of the World Online, Kew Science. Accessed 25 November 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. Accessed 25 November 2022. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Croton+macrostachyus>
- ^ HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants, The Natural History Museum. Accessed 26 November 2022.
- ^ Euphorbiaceae: Croton macrostachyus Hochst. ex A. Rich. Afromoths, Belgian Biodiversity Platform. Accessed 25 November 2022.