Croton lanatus Lamarck (1786:211)

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 : 249-251

20. Croton lanatus Lamarck (1786:211) .

Type: — URUGUAY. Montevideo, s.loc., s.d., P. Commerson s.n. (holotype P 00623501 !; isotypes A 00303800!, F I011649!, MPU 014842!). ( Fig. 11 , K–M)

Croton lanatus is a shrub easly distiguised by its highly dense indument of stellate trichomes, sessile basilaminar glands, densely pubescent styles, and a pair of sessile glands at the base of bracts. Some specimens have been misidentified as C. reitzii , however, they can be differentiated by leaf shape and inflorescence (ovate to ovate-lanceolate and lax in C. lanatus vs. lanceolate and congested in C. reitzii ). Croton lanatus is also morphologically similar to C. thermarum , but they can be distinguished by styles and nectary glands at the bracts (bifid and present in C. lanatus vs. tetrafid and absent in C. thermarum ) (see Table 2 ). Croton lanatus belongs to section Adenophylli subsect. Meridionalis ( van Ee & Berry 2021) .

Distribution and habitat:— It occurs in Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil (PR, RS, SC) ( Smith et al. 1988, Caruzo & Cordeiro 2007). The species has few records for the state of Paraná, being most commonly found in Rio Grande do Sul. It grows in open vegetation (‘campo limpo’), preferably in rocky and sandy soils, between 800 and 1280 m elevation. ( Fig. 10 ).

Phenology:— Flowering and fruiting from June, September and November.

Representative specimens:— PARANÁ: Cantagalo, BR-277, 11 June 1989, A. C . Cervi et al. 2718 ( MBM, UPCB). Guarapuava , 26 September 1968, G . Hatschbach & O . Guimarães 19860 ( MBM). Idem, Rio Cavernoso , 06 November 1963, E . Pereira & G . Hatschbach 7699 ( MBM) .

Figures

FIGURE 10. Map showing the known geographic distributions of Croton grandivelus, C. heterodoxus, C. ichthygaster, and C. lanatus in Paraná state.

FIGURE 11. Croton heterodoxus. A. Habit. B. Glandular stipules. C. Densely congested inflorescence, with staminate flowers beginning to open. D. Inflorescence with open pistillate flowers. E. Staminate flower at anthesis, visited by beetles. C. ichthygaster. F. Habit. G. Leaves showing a sessile basilaminar nectary glands being visited by antes. H. Inflorescence. I. Pistillate flowers. J. Capsules. C. lanatus. K. Sessile basilaminar nectary glands. L. Pistillate flowers. M. Pistillate flower and capsule; arrow points toa nectary gland associated with a bract. Photos: A.P.N. Pereira.