Croton cuneatus

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Croton martii var. latifolius
• Croton bilocularis
• Oxydectes surinamensis
• Oxydectes cuneata
• Oxydectes martii
• Croton kaieteuri
• Croton martii
• Macrocroton cuneatus
• Croton martii var. longifolius
• Croton monachinoensis
• Croton mimeticus
• Croton subcoriaceus
• Croton surinamensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata

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 name, Croton.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific range across the South American continent. In Northern South America, its presence is documented within French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname. It also inhabits various regions throughout Venezuela. Moving toward the western part of the continent, its distribution extends into Bolivia. Consequently, these specific countries define the known geographical footprint of Croton cunatus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Croton cunatus is characterized by its ability to thrive in diverse environmental settings, ranging from highly disturbed anthropic areas to pristine forest ecosystems. It is frequently found within various forest types, including riparian galleries (Floresta de Galeria), seasonally flooded forests (Floresta de Várzea), and permanently flooded forests (Floresta de Igapó), as well as in more stable upland forests (Floresta de Terra Firme). This plant occupies a specific altitudinal niche, typically occurring at elevations ranging from a minimum of 100 m AMSL to a maximum of 300 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

100 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta de Igapó, Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta de Várzea

Life history

The life history of Croton cuneatus is characterized by its classification as a phanerophyte, indicating a growth strategy where its regenerative buds are elevated above the soil surface on woody stems. Within the spectrum of plant life forms, it exhibits characteristics consistent with a phanerophyte, allowing it to maintain structural height and persist through various environmental conditions. While its primary biological structure aligns with the phanerophyte designation, its ecological niche and growth habits may occasionally intersect with traits of a nanophanerophyte, depending on the specific environmental stressors and the resulting height of its woody architecture. This life history enables the species to establish a perennial presence, utilizing its elevated buds to survive seasonal changes and environmental fluctuations.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Croton cunatus is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree, reaching a maximum plant height of 18 meters. It functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial habit rather than being aquatic or semiaquatic. The plant is a self-supporting structure, lacking the climbing or liana-like tendencies of vines, and instead establishes a stable, upright woody framework typical of large arboreal species.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

18 m

Woodiness :

woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Croton cuneatus has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hypoglycemic.

Hypoglycemic

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)