Difference between revisions of "Croton michauxii"

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===Pollination===
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===Pollination and use by animals===
The following Hymenoptera families and species were observed visiting flowers of ''Croton michauxii'' at Archbold Biological Station: <ref name= "Deyrup">Deyrup, M.A. and N.D. 2015. Database of observations of Hymenoptera visitations to flowers of plants on Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA.</ref>
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''Croton michauxii'' has been observed at the Archbold Biological Station to hose sweat bees from the Halictidae family such as ''Lasioglossum coreopsis, L. lepidii, L. nymphalis'' and ''L. placidensis'', as well as thread-waisted wasps from the Sphecidae family such as ''Cerceris blakei, C. tolteca, Philanthus ventilabris'' and ''Tachysphex similis'', and wasps from the Vespidae family such as ''Microdynerus monolobus, Parancistrocerus salcularis rufulus, Stenodynerus fundatiformis, S. histrionalis rufustus'' and ''S. lineatifrons.''<ref name= "Deyrup">Deyrup, M.A. and N.D. 2015. Database of observations of Hymenoptera visitations to flowers of plants on Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA.</ref>
 
 
Halictidae''Lasioglossum coreopsis, L. lepidii, L. nymphalis, L. placidensis''
 
 
 
Sphecidae''Cerceris blakei, C. tolteca, Philanthus ventilabris, Tachysphex similis''
 
 
 
Vespidae''Microdynerus monolobus, Parancistrocerus salcularis rufulus, Stenodynerus fundatiformis, S. histrionalis rufustus, S. lineatifrons''
 
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Revision as of 08:14, 22 June 2021

Croton michauxii
Crot mich.jpg
Photo by Matthew Merritt, Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons
Order: Euphorbiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Croton
Species: C. michauxii
Binomial name
Croton michauxii
G.L. Webster
Crot mich dist.jpg
Natural range of Croton michauxii from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common names: Michaux's croton; sand rushfoil; narrowleaf rushfoil

Taxonomic notes

Synonyms: Crotonopsis linearis Michaux; Croton michauxii G.L. Webster var. michauxii.[1]

Varieties: none.[1]

Description

The leaves of C. michauxii are arranged opposite, the green and white flowers are arranged on a spike. [2]

Distribution

Ecology

Habitat

In the Coastal Plain in Florida, C. michauxii can be found at lake margins; mesic woodlands; pine flatwoods; longleaf pine-turkey oak sandhills; open oak scrubs; upland pine/oak forests; and cypress ponds. It can be found in human disturbed areas such as open firelanes, roadsides, clear cut sand ridges, old fields, pastures, bulldozed oak scrubs, clobbered slash pine forests, and pine plantations. [3] Soil types include sand and loamy sand. [3] Associated species include Quercus virginiana, Q. laevis, Q. incana, Q. myrtifolia, Q. chapmanii, Serenoa repens, Paronychia patula, Paronychia baldwinii and Chrysopsis subulata. [3]

Phenology

C. michauxii has been observed to flower and fruit from June through October with peak inflorescence in July.[4] [3]

Pollination and use by animals

Croton michauxii has been observed at the Archbold Biological Station to hose sweat bees from the Halictidae family such as Lasioglossum coreopsis, L. lepidii, L. nymphalis and L. placidensis, as well as thread-waisted wasps from the Sphecidae family such as Cerceris blakei, C. tolteca, Philanthus ventilabris and Tachysphex similis, and wasps from the Vespidae family such as Microdynerus monolobus, Parancistrocerus salcularis rufulus, Stenodynerus fundatiformis, S. histrionalis rufustus and S. lineatifrons.[5]

Conservation, cultivation, and restoration

Cultural use

Many species of Croton can be used in medicine, but oil derived from the plant can be highly toxic for canines and cause blistering on skin.[6]

Photo Gallery

References and notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 Weakley, A.S. 2015. Flora of the southern and mid-atlantic states. Working Draft of 21 May 2015. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
  2. [Southeastern Flora] Accessed: December 7, 2015
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: July 2015. Collectors: Loran C. Anderson, George R. Cooley, R.J. Eaton, R.K. Godfrey, R.D. Houk, C. Jackson, Lisa Keppner, R. Kral, Robert L. Lazor, S.W. Leonard, Richard S. Mitchell, John Morrill, Leon Neel, R.A. Norris, R.E. Perdue Jr., Gwynn W. Ramsey, James D. Ray Jr., A.G. Shuey, J. Sincock, Cecil R. Slaughter, Wakulla, D.B. Ward, A.A. Will. States and Counties: Florida: Citrus, DeSoto, Dixie, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Lake, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Putnam, Nassau, Seminole, Suwannee, Taylor, Wakulla, Washington. Compiled by Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy.
  4. Nelson, G. PanFlora: Plant data for the eastern United States with emphasis on the Southeastern Coastal Plains, Florida, and the Florida Panhandle. www.gilnelson.com/PanFlora/ Accessed: 8 DEC 2016
  5. Deyrup, M.A. and N.D. 2015. Database of observations of Hymenoptera visitations to flowers of plants on Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA.
  6. Mueschner, W.C. 1957. Poisonous Plants of the United States. The Macmillan Company, New York.