Difference between revisions of "Croton argyranthemus"

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===Seed dispersal===
 
===Seed dispersal===
Seeds have elaiosomes, and can be dispersed by ants such as fire ants<ref name=cumberland/>. It can also be dispersed explosively<ref name=Kirkman et al 2001/>. Three of the ballistic euphorbs (''C. stimulosus, C. argyranthemus'' and ''S. sylvatica'') produce seeds with elaiosomes and all of the ballistic species are collected by ants, in particular ''Pogonomyrex badius'' Latreille (Long and Lakela 1971; N.E. Stamp and J. R. Lucas, personal observation).”<ref name="Stamp and Lucas 1990">Stamp, N. E. and J. R. Lucas (1990). "Spatial patterns and dispersal distances of explosively dispersing plants in Florida sandhill vegetation." Journal of Ecology 78: 589-600.</ref> According to Kay Kirkman, a plant ecologist, this species disperses by explosion mechanisms or by ants. <ref name="KK"> Kay Kirkman, unpublished data, 2015. </ref>
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Seeds have elaiosomes, and can be dispersed by ants such as fire ants<ref name=cumberland/>. It can also be dispersed explosively<ref name="Kirkman et al 2004"/>. Three of the ballistic euphorbs (''C. stimulosus, C. argyranthemus'' and ''S. sylvatica'') produce seeds with elaiosomes and all of the ballistic species are collected by ants, in particular ''Pogonomyrex badius'' Latreille (Long and Lakela 1971; N.E. Stamp and J. R. Lucas, personal observation).”<ref name="Stamp and Lucas 1990">Stamp, N. E. and J. R. Lucas (1990). "Spatial patterns and dispersal distances of explosively dispersing plants in Florida sandhill vegetation." Journal of Ecology 78: 589-600.</ref> According to Kay Kirkman, a plant ecologist, this species disperses by explosion mechanisms or by ants. <ref name="KK"> Kay Kirkman, unpublished data, 2015. </ref>
 
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Revision as of 10:53, 15 April 2016

Croton argyranthemus
Croton argyranthemus Gil.jpg
photo by Gil Nelson
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Order: Euphorbiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Croton
Species: C. argyranthemus
Binomial name
Croton argyranthemus
Michx.
CROT ARGY dist.jpg
Natural range of Croton argyranthemus from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common name: healing croton

Taxonomic notes

Description

Distribution

Ecology

Habitat

It is extremely vulnerable to disturbance. One reason for this might be that it relies too much on native species of ants for dispersal.[1] It can be found in longleaf pine communities.[2] It can also be found in sandhill communities.[3] It has been found on the edges of sandy oak-palmetto scrub, clobbered, cutover flatwoods, and pine-turkey oak flatwoods and sand ridges[4]. It has also been found to grow along disturbed areas like the wooded edges of powerline corridors. Growing in either moderate shade to full sun, this species grows in drying sandy loam in the uplands.

Associated species includes Crotonopsis, Paronychia, Tetragonotheca, Berlandiera, and Onosmodium[4].

Phenology

It is a summer forb.[1] This species has been observed to flower from April to October and to fruit from April to September[4].

Seed dispersal

Seeds have elaiosomes, and can be dispersed by ants such as fire ants[2]. It can also be dispersed explosively[1]. Three of the ballistic euphorbs (C. stimulosus, C. argyranthemus and S. sylvatica) produce seeds with elaiosomes and all of the ballistic species are collected by ants, in particular Pogonomyrex badius Latreille (Long and Lakela 1971; N.E. Stamp and J. R. Lucas, personal observation).”[3] According to Kay Kirkman, a plant ecologist, this species disperses by explosion mechanisms or by ants. [5]

Fire ecology

This species is fire tolerant and is included in the flowering plant survery – post burn – in Heuberger’s study.[6]

Use by animals

Ants are an agent of seed dispersal[2]. C. argyranthemus is an important game food plant: it is consumed by doves, quail, and deer.[7]

Conservation and Management

Cultivation and restoration

Photo Gallery

References and notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Kirkman, L. K., K. L. Coffey, et al. (2004). "Ground cover recovery patterns and life-history traits: implications for restoration obstacles and opportunities in a species-rich savanna." Journal of Ecology 92(3): 409-421.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Cumberland, M. S. and L. K. Kirkman (2013). "The effects of the red imported fire ant on seed fate in the longleaf pine ecosystem." Plant Ecology 214: 717-724.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Stamp, N. E. and J. R. Lucas (1990). "Spatial patterns and dispersal distances of explosively dispersing plants in Florida sandhill vegetation." Journal of Ecology 78: 589-600.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: June 2014. Collectors: Loran C. Anderson, D. Burch, Andre F. Clewell, M. Davis, Patricia Elliot, Robert K. Godfrey, C. Jackson, Walter Kittredge, Gary R. Knight, Robert Kral, Robert L. Lazor, Sidney McDaniel, John Morrill, John B. Nelson, R. A. Norris, Cecil R. Slaughter, John K. Small, S. S. Ward, E. West, Ira L. Wiggins, and Dorothy B. Wiggins. States and Counties: Florida: Alachua, Bay, Clay, Columbia, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Holmes, Jackson, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Marion, Okaloosa, Polk, Santa Rosa, Taylor, Walton, and Washington.
  5. Kay Kirkman, unpublished data, 2015.
  6. Heuberger, K. A. and F. E. Putz (2003). "Fire in the suburbs: ecological impacts of prescribed fire in small remnants of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) sandhill." Restoration Ecology 11: 72-81.
  7. Hebb, E. A. (1971). "Site preparation decreases game food plants in Florida sandhills." Journal of Wildlife Management 35: 155-162.