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Croton (plant)

Croton
Croton californicus 4.jpg
Croton californicus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Subfamily: Crotonoideae
Tribe: Crotoneae
Genus: Croton
L.
Sections

see text
Synonyms
  • Aldinia Raf.
  • Angelandra Endl.
  • Anisepta Raf.
  • Anisophyllum Boivin ex Baill.
  • Argyra Noronha ex Baill.
  • Argyrodendron Klotzsch
  • Aroton Neck.
  • Astrogyne Benth.
  • Aubertia Chapel. ex Baill.
  • Banalia Raf.
  • Barhamia Klotzsch in B.Seemann
  • Brachystachys Klotzsch
  • Brunsvia Neck.
  • Calypteriopetalon Hassk.
  • Calyptriopetalum Hassk. ex Müll.Arg.
  • Cascarilla Adans.
  • Centrandra H.Karst.
  • Cieca Adans.
  • Cinogasum Neck.
  • Cleodora Klotzsch
  • Codonocalyx Klotzsch ex Baill.
  • Comatocroton H.Karst.
  • Crotonanthus Klotzsch ex Schltdl.
  • Crotonopsis Michx.
  • Cubacroton Alain
  • Cyclostigma Klotzsch in B.C.Seemann
  • Decarinium Raf.
  • Drepadenium Raf.
  • Elutheria L.
  • Engelmannia Klotzsch
  • Eremocarpus Benth.
  • Eutropia Klotzsch
  • Friesia Spreng.
  • Furcaria Boivin ex Baill.
  • Geiseleria Klotzsch
  • Gynamblosis Torr.
  • Halecus Rumph. ex Raf.
  • Hendecandra Eschsch.
  • Heptallon Raf.
  • Heptanis Raf.
  • Heterochlamys Turcz.
  • Heterocroton S.Moore
  • Julocroton Mart.
  • Klotzschiphytum Baill.
  • Kurkas Raf.
  • Lascadium Raf.
  • Lasiogyne Klotzsch
  • Leontia Rchb.
  • Leptemon Raf.
  • Leucadenia Klotzsch ex Baill.
  • Luntia Neck. ex Raf.
  • Macrocroton Klotzsch in M.R.Schomburgk
  • Medea Klotzsch
  • Megalocarpus Hutch.
  • Merleta Raf.
  • Moacroton Croizat
  • Monguia Chapel. ex Baill.
  • Myriogomphus Didr.
  • Ocalia Klotzsch
  • Oxydectes L. ex Kuntze
  • Palanostigma Mart. ex Klotzsch
  • Penteca Raf.
  • Pilinophytum Klotzsch
  • Piscaria Piper
  • Pleopadium Raf.
  • Podostachys Klotzsch
  • Saipania Hosok.
  • Schousboea Willd.
  • Schradera Willd.
  • Semilta Raf.
  • Tiglium Klotzsch
  • Timandra Klotzsch
  • Tridesmis Lour.
  • Triplandra Raf.
  • Vandera Raf.

see text

Croton is an extensive flowering plant genus in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. The plants of this genus were described and introduced to Europeans by Georg Eberhard Rumphius. The common names for this genus are rushfoil and croton, but the latter also refers to Codiaeum variegatum. The generic name comes from the Greek κρότος (krótos), which means "tick" and refers to the shape of the seeds of certain species.

Croton is a diverse and complex taxonomic group of plants ranging from herbs and shrubs to trees. A well-known member of this genus is Croton tiglium, a shrub native to Southeast Asia. It was first mentioned in European literature by Cristóbal Acosta in 1578 as lignum pavanae. The 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 tiglium oil has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat severe constipation, heal lesions, and is used as a purgative. It is a source of the organic compound phorbol and its tumor-promoting esters such as 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. In the Amazon the red latex from the species Croton lechleri, known as Sangre de Drago (Dragon's blood), is used as a "liquid bandage", as well as for other medicinal purposes, by native peoples.


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