Croton triqueter Lamarck (1786: 214)

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 : 262

38. Croton triqueter Lamarck (1786: 214) .

Type: — BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro: June 1767, P. Commerson s.n. (holotype P 00382045 !; isotypes P 00634800!, P 00634801!). ( Fig. 19 , E–G)

Croton triqueter is a shrub with congested inflorescences, 11 stamens, and unequal, deeply laciniate pistillate sepals. These characters are also present in C. didrichsenii , however, both species can be distinguished by vegetative structures and habitat (comments under C. didrichsenii ). The species is the type of section Julocroton .

Distribution and habitat:— It is a widely distributed species from Mexico to Argentina., In Brazil it is also widely distributed (AL, BA, CE, ES, GO, MA, MG, MS, PA, PE, PR, RJ, RN, RS, SC, SP, SE) ( Cordeiro 1990, Caruzo et al. 2020), where it grows in edges and glades of forests, riverbanks, disturbed areas, and ‘lajedos’, between 170 and 1150 m elevation ( Fig. 20 ).

Phenology:— Flowering and fruiting throughout the year, except in July.

Representative specimens:— PARANÁ: Campo Mourão, Lajedo Nishida, 19 October 2016, A . P .N. Pereira, F . S . Petrongari & O . L .M. Silva 30 ( SP). Doutor Ulysses, Barra do Teixeira , 16 September 2006, J . M . Silva & E . Barbosa 5050 ( HUEFS, MBM). Engenheiro Beltrão, Rio Ivaí , 06 February 1962, G . Hatschbach 8830 ( MBM). Laranjeiras do Sul, Foz do Chopim , 09 June 1968, G . Hatschbach & O . Guimarães 19319 ( MBM). Londrina, Fazenda Figueira Paiquerê , 15 May 2003, D. A . Estevan 261 ( FUEL, MBM) .

Figures

FIGURE 19. Croton tricolor. A. Branches and inflorescence. B. Stipules. C. Leaves. D. Pistillate flowers. C. triqueter. E. Branches. F. Stipules. G. Pistillate flower. C. urucurana. H. Habit. I. Cordate leaf. J. Staminate flowers and capsules, the lower cymules bisexual. C. vulnerarius. K. Leaf base with arrow pointing to stipitate nectary glands. L. Staminate flower. M. Pistillate flower. N. Young muricate capsules. Photos:A–D: M.B.R. Caruzo, E–N:A.P.N. Pereira.

FIGURE 20. Map showing the known geographic distributions of Croton trinitatis, C. triqueter, C. urucurana, C. uruguayensis, and C. vulnerarius in Paraná state.