Croton crassifolius

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tridesmis tomentosa
• Oxydectes tomentosa
• Tridesmis hispida
• Croton crozophoroides
• Croton kroneanus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Malpighiales, it is classified under the family Euphorbiaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Croton, and its specific species name, Croton crassifolius.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across parts of Asia. Within China, it can be found in the Hainan province as well as throughout China Southeast. Its range extends into the Indo-China region, where it is naturally occurring in Laos. Furthermore, the species is documented to grow within the borders of Myanmar. Finally, the plant is also distributed across Thailand, completing its regional presence.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Croton crassifolius is characterized by its nature as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and maintain a stable presence within its ecological niche. In terms of its structural growth strategy, the species exhibits a chamaephyte life form, meaning its regenerative buds are located close to the soil surface, typically just above the ground level. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle and a low-growing, shrubby habit enables the plant to withstand environmental fluctuations while ensuring its continued survival and reproduction over extended periods.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Croton crassifolius is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub that functions as a self-supporting, independent organism. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behavior. In terms of stature, the plant maintains a relatively low profile, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 0.5 m, resulting in a mean plant height of approximately 0.675 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.675 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Croton crassifolius is characterized by specific vegetative morphological parameters and nutritional metabolic pathways. The leaf structure exhibits significant variability in dimensions, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 10 cm, maintaining a mean length of approximately 7 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width demonstrates a range from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 6 cm, resulting in a mean width of 4 cm. Regarding its nutrient acquisition strategies, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing processes.

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length mean:

7 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

6 cm

Leaf width mean:

4 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Croton crassifolius is characterized by specific morphological dimensions of its reproductive structures, particularly regarding its inflorescence and fruit development. The plant produces an inflorescence that typically ranges in length from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 0.1 m. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruits that exhibit highly consistent dimensions; the fruit width is measured at a mean of 1 cm, with both the minimum and maximum recorded widths also being 1 cm, indicating a very stable fruit size during the reproductive cycle.

Fruit width max:

1 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.1 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.05 m

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Croton crassifolius has 1 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Natural product research
4. Scientific reports

Chemicals

Croton crassifolius has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Chettaphanin II, Cyperenoic acid, Flavonoids, Terpenoids.

Chettaphanin II

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cyperenoic acid

1. Scientific reports

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Terpenoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Croton crassifolius has 1 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antitumor.

Antitumor

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Croton crassifolius has 6 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, ferroptosis, osteoporosis, rheumatic arthritis, rheumatism.

Cancer

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ferroptosis

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Osteoporosis

1. Scientific reports

Rheumatic arthritis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Rheumatism

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Sore throat

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Croton crassifolius has 3 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Roots, essential oil, roots.

Roots

1. Natural product research

Essential oil

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Roots

1. Chemistry & biodiversity