Croton tomentellus F.Muell.

Euphorbiaceae

Mueller, F.J.H. von (1864) Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae 4: 141. Type: In rupibus fluvii Victoria River, ejus ostium versus. Jan. 1856 F.Mueller.

A small tree not exceeding 30 cm dbh.

Leaf blades about 5.5-10 x 2.5-5 cm. Oil dots visible with a lens. Two cup-shaped or umbrella-shaped glands on the side of the petiole near its junction with the leaf blade. Simple and stellate hairs visible on the underside of the leaf blade. Stellate hairs usually visible on young shoots, petioles and upper surface of the leaf blade.

Inflorescence up to 13 cm long. Male and female flowers about 3 mm diam. Male flowers: Sepals triangular, about 2-2.3 x 0.8-1.8 mm, outer surface clothed in stellate hairs. Petals elliptic to obovate, about 3-3.2 x 0.7-1 mm. Stamens 10-12. Female flowers: Tepals triangular, about 1.8-2 x 1-1.8 mm, outer surface clothed in stellate hairs. Ovary about 2.5 x 3 mm, clothed in stellate hairs. Stigmas 3, each bilobed and all spreading like the spokes of a wheel.

Capsules about 6-8 mm diam., clothed in stellate scales, disintegrating at maturity, leaving the stalk and central axis attached to the twig.

Features not available.

Occurs in WA and NT, and possibly in the western gulf region of NEQ. Altitudinal range from sea level to about 300 m. Grows in monsoon forest. Also occurs in Malesia.

Croton tomentellus Mull.Arg., Linnaea 34: 108(1865), Type: In Arnhemsland Novae Hollandiae septentrionalis (Ferd. Muell.! in hb. DC.).