Croton section Cleodora (Klotzsch, 1841) Baillon, 1858

Caruzo, Maria Beatriz Rossi & Cordeiro, Inês, 2013, Taxonomic revision of Croton section Cleodora (Euphorbiaceae), Phytotaxa 121 (1), pp. 1-41 : 3-4

Key to the subsections and species of Croton section Cleodora

1. Sepals of pistillate flowers with quincuncial aestivation. Fruits globose or ellipsoid, never trigonal (except C. rufolepidotus ) .............................................................................................................. 2 ( Croton subsect. Sphaerogyni )

- Sepals of pistillate flowers with imbricate aestivation, rarely reduplicate-valvate. Fruits subglobose, usually trigonal ...................................................................................................................................... 10 ( Croton subsect. Spruceani )

2. Leaf glands acropetiolar ............................................................................................................................................... 3

- Leaf glands basilaminar (in C. organensis the glands are maculate, inconspicuous).................................................. 5

3. Branchlets angular. Pistillate flowers flask-shaped; disk 5-segmented; calyx lobes not accrescent ........... C. salutaris

- Branchlets cylindrical. Pistillate flowers campanulate; disk entire, deeply 5-lobed; calyx lobes strongly accrescent. ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 4

4. Indument rufous-silvery. Leaf margin entire. Stamens ca. 25. Pistillate flowers with styles included in calyx ............ ............................................................................................................................................................. C. campanulatus

- Indument silvery. Leaf margin finely serrate. Stamens ca. 15. Pistillate flowers with styles exserted from calyx........ .............................................................................................................................................................. C. hemiargyreus

5. Styles 4-fid (12 terminal arms) ..................................................................................................................................... 6

- Styles multifid (> 12 terminal arms) ............................................................................................................................ 7

6. Branchlets flattened. Leaf glands globose. Staminate flowers campanulate. Pistillate flowers flask-shaped. Atlantic rain forest ........................................................................................................................................ 8. C. sphaerogynus

- Branchlets cylindrical. Leaf glands saucer-shaped. Staminate flowers subcampanulate. Pistillate flowers ovoid. Amazon rain forests .................................................................................................................................... C. cajucara

7. Indument lepidote. Colombia.............................................................................................................. C. rufolepidotus

- Indument non lepidote. Eastern Brazil........................................................................................................................ 8

8. Branchlets cylindrical. Staminate flowers cup-shaped. Pistillate flowers subsessile. ............................ C. heterocalyx

- Branchlets flattened. Staminate flowers subcampanulate. Pistillate flowers pedicellate ........................................... 9

9. Venation eucamptodromous; foliar glands maculate, inconspicuous. Bracts not foliaceous, without glands. Staminate flowers subcampanulate. Sepals of the pistillate flowers united only at the base .................. C. organensis

- Venation brochidodromous; foliar glands globose, conspicuous. Bracts foliaceous, with a pair of globose glands at the base. Staminate flowers campanulate. Sepals of the pistillate flowers united up to half of their length ................. ..................................................................................................................................................... C. stellatoferrugineus

10. Leaf glands acropetiolar ............................................................................................................................................ 11

- Leaf glands basilaminar .............................................................................................................................................. 13

11. Stipules lacerate. Pistillate flowers reduplicate-valvate; styles multifid (> 12 terminal arms) ................... C. fragrans

- Stipules entire. Pistillate flowers imbricate; styles 4-fid (12 terminal arms).............................................................. 12

12. Branchlets flattened. Anthers ellipsoid. Pistillate flowers subcampanulate; petals with rounded apex ......................... .............................................................................................................................................................. C. fragrantulus

- Branchlets cylindrical. Anthers arrow-headed. Pistillate flowers campanulate; petals with wavy and indented apex. ................................................................................................................................................................. C. hoffmannii

13. Styles multifid (> 12 terminal arms) .......................................................................................................................... 14

- Styles 4-fid (12 terminal arms) .................................................................................................................................. 15

14. Indument ferrugineous. Staminate flowers campanulate; calyx lobes not deflexed in fruit. Epicarp smooth .............. ................................................................................................................................................................. C. sexmetralis

- Indument whitish. Staminate flowers subcampanulate; calyx lobes deflexed in fruit. Epicarp warty ........................... .............................................................................................................................................................. C. billbergianus

15. Pistillate flowers urn-shaped ................................................................................................................... C. spruceanus

- Pistillate flowers campanulate ... 16

16. Climbing shrubs; branchlets slightly flattened. Stamens ca. 25 ....................................................... C. pseudofragrans

- Straight trees to shrubs; branchlets cylindric. Stamens ca. 15................................................................................... 17

17. Indument lepidote. Leaves elliptical, strongly discolorous. Inflorescences congested. Disk of pistillate flowers 5- segmented. Epicarp warty. Amazonian rain forests ................................................................................. C. orinocensis

- Indument pubescent. Leaves ovate, slightly discolorous. Inflorescences lax. Disk of pistillate flowers 5-lobed. Epicarp smooth. Brazilian seasonal dry forests .................................................................................... C. rottlerifolius