Croton muellerianus Lima (2008a: 124)

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 : 253-254

24. Croton muellerianus Lima (2008a: 124) .

Type: — BRAZIL. Paraná: Campina Grande do Sul, Pico Caratuva , 16 April 2004, L.R. Lima, J.M. Silva & O.S. Ribas 358 (holotype SPF 161251 !; isotypes MBM, SP, WIS) (Illustration available in Lima & Pirani 2008b: 218).

This shrub can be recognized by its densely branched habit, leaves that are broadly elliptic or broadly ovate, and strongly discolorous, with glabrous adaxial surface and golden lepidote abaxial surface. The species is morphologically similar to C. splendidus , which can also be found in the same habitat. They can be distinguished by the presence of trichomes on the adaxial leaf surface and styles (glabrous and subentire lepidote trichomes, respectively, in C. muellerianus vs. stellate trichomes and glabrous, respectively, in C. splendidus ). The species belongs to section Lamprocroton subsect. Lamprocroton ( van Ee & Berry 2011) .

Distribution and habitat:— It is apparently endemic to Paraná, occurring in the municipalities of Antonina, Campina Grande do Sul and Morretes ( Lima & Pirani 2008a, Lima & Pirani 2008 b, Caruzo et al. 2020). It grows in open vegetation (‘campo de altitude’) or edges of cloud forest, between 1000 and 2600 m of elevation ( Fig. 12 ).

Phenology:— Flowering from January, February, May, July, September to November, and fruiting from January, September and October.

Representative specimens:— PARANÁ: Antonina, Pico Ciririca , 10 October 2010, E . D. Lozano & V . Ariati 421 ( MBM). Campina Grande do Sul, Serra dos Órgãos , 04 July 1991, C. V . Roderjan 925 B ( MBM, UPCB); Pico Paraná, 24 October 2005, O. S . Ribas , R . Goldenberg & F . Michelangeli 7013 ( MBM, RB). Morretes, Serra Marumbi, 18 February 1982, G . Hatschbach 44586 ( MBM, MO); idem, 22 February 2005, E. F . Costa , E . Barbosa & B . Biancolini 43 ( MBM) .

Figures

FIGURE 12. Map showing the known geographic distributions of Croton longicarpus, C. lundianus, C.macrobothrys, and C. muellerianus in Paraná state.