Codiaeum variegatum - Meet the Plants - National Tropical Botanical Garden Plant Database

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Taxonomy:

Codiaeum variegatum (Euphorbiaceae)

Common Name:
Croton
Garden Croton

Classification:

Codiaeum variegatum (L.) Juss.
Kingdom: Plantae-Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta-Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta-Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta-Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida-Dicotyledons
Subclass: Rosidae
Order: Euphorbiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family
Genus: Codiaeum Juss. - Codiaeum
Species: Codiaeum variegatum (L.) Juss. - Garden Croton
(National Plant Database. 2005.)
(Watson, L., and Dallwitz, M. J. 1992. The Families of Flowering Plants: Descriptions, Illustrations, Identification, and Information Retrieval.)

Description:

Croton has glossy, leathery leaves that are very variable in shape, highly colored and variegated. The leaves can be ovate or linear and variegated with pink, orange, green, brown, yellow and white.

In addition the plant may change color as it matures. The plant produces hardly noticeable star-shaped yellow flowers that in long racemes. The cut stems bleed a sap that is poisonous.
(Watson, L., and Dallwitz, M. J. 1992. The Families of Flowering Plants: Descriptions,Illustrations, Identification, and Information Retrieval.)
(Powell, Charles C. and Vining Donald M. 1984. Ortho’s Complete Guide to Successful Houseplants.)

Dangerous/Poisonous:

The bark, roots, latex and leaves are poisonous, containing the toxin called 5-deoxyingenol. Chewing the bark and roots is said to cause burning of the mouth. The latex has caused eczema in some gardeners after repeated exposure.

(Powell, Charles C. and Vining Donald M. 1984. Ortho’s Complete Guide to Successful Houseplants.)

Indigenous Practices:

Croton is an exotic looking plant that is grown in warm greenhouses or conservatory or as a houseplant.

(Powell, Charles C. and Vining Donald M. 1984. Ortho’s Complete Guide to Successful Houseplants.)

(Information for this species compiled and recorded by Camelia Cirnaru, NTBG Consultant.)

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