Croton argyranthemus
| Croton argyranthemus | |
|---|---|
| |
| 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. | |
| |
| Natural range of Croton argyranthemus from USDA NRCS Plants Database. | |
Contents
Description
Common Name: healing croton
Distribution
Ecology
Floyd[1] observed that “Doves like wild seed from grasses, crotons, and ragweed and other plants.”[2]
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.[3] It can be found in longleaf pine communities.[4] It can also be found in sandhill communities.[5]
Phenology
It is a summer forb.[3]
Seed dispersal
Seeds have elaiosomes, and can be dispersed by ants such as fire ants (Cumberland et al 2013). It can also be dispersed explosively (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).”[5]
Seed bank and germination
Fire ecology
Are included in the flowering plant survery – post burn – in Heuberger’s study.[6]
Pollination
Use by animals
Ants are an agent of seed dispersal (Cumberland et al 2013). C. argyranthemus is an important game food plant: it is consumed by doves, quail, and deer.[2]
Diseases and parasites
Conservation and Management
Cultivation and restoration
Photo Gallery
References and notes
- ↑ Floyd (1960:12), more citation needed
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hebb, E. A. (1971). "Site preparation decreases game food plants in Florida sandhills." Journal of Wildlife Management 35: 155-162.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 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.
- ↑ 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.
