Croton (sect. Cleodora) Baillon 1858

Key to the subsections and species of Croton section Cleodora

1. Sepals of pistillate flowers with quincuncial aestivation. Fruits globose or ellipsoid, never trigonal (except C. rufolepidotus).............................................................................................................. 2 (Croton subsect. Sphaerogyni)

- Sepals of pistillate flowers with imbricate aestivation, rarely reduplicate-valvate. Fruits subglobose, usually trigonal...................................................................................................................................... 10 (Croton subsect. Spruceani)

2. Leaf glands acropetiolar............................................................................................................................................... 3

- Leaf glands basilaminar (in C. organensis the glands are maculate, inconspicuous).................................................. 5

3. Branchlets angular. Pistillate flowers flask-shaped; disk 5-segmented; calyx lobes not accrescent ........... C. salutaris

- Branchlets cylindrical. Pistillate flowers campanulate; disk entire, deeply 5-lobed; calyx lobes strongly accrescent...................................................................................................................................................................................... 4

4. Indument rufous-silvery. Leaf margin entire. Stamens ca. 25. Pistillate flowers with styles included in calyx............ ............................................................................................................................................................. C. campanulatus

- Indument silvery. Leaf margin finely serrate. Stamens ca. 15. Pistillate flowers with styles exserted from calyx........ .............................................................................................................................................................. C. hemiargyreus

5. Styles 4-fid (12 terminal arms)..................................................................................................................................... 6

- Styles multifid (> 12 terminal arms)............................................................................................................................ 7

6. Branchlets flattened. Leaf glands globose. Staminate flowers campanulate. Pistillate flowers flask-shaped. Atlantic rain forest........................................................................................................................................ 8. C. sphaerogynus

- Branchlets cylindrical. Leaf glands saucer-shaped. Staminate flowers subcampanulate. Pistillate flowers ovoid. Amazon rain forests .................................................................................................................................... C. cajucara

7. Indument lepidote. Colombia .............................................................................................................. C. rufolepidotus

- Indument non lepidote. Eastern Brazil........................................................................................................................ 8

8. Branchlets cylindrical. Staminate flowers cup-shaped. Pistillate flowers subsessile. ............................ C. heterocalyx

- Branchlets flattened. Staminate flowers subcampanulate. Pistillate flowers pedicellate........................................... 9

9. Venation eucamptodromous; foliar glands maculate, inconspicuous. Bracts not foliaceous, without glands. Staminate flowers subcampanulate. Sepals of the pistillate flowers united only at the base.................. C. organensis

- Venation brochidodromous; foliar glands globose, conspicuous. Bracts foliaceous, with a pair of globose glands at the base. Staminate flowers campanulate. Sepals of the pistillate flowers united up to half of their length................. ..................................................................................................................................................... C. stellatoferrugineus

10. Leaf glands acropetiolar............................................................................................................................................ 11

- Leaf glands basilaminar.............................................................................................................................................. 13

11. Stipules lacerate. Pistillate flowers reduplicate-valvate; styles multifid (> 12 terminal arms) ................... C. fragrans

- Stipules entire. Pistillate flowers imbricate; styles 4-fid (12 terminal arms).............................................................. 12

12. Branchlets flattened. Anthers ellipsoid. Pistillate flowers subcampanulate; petals with rounded apex....................................................................................................................................................................................... C. fragrantulus

- Branchlets cylindrical. Anthers arrow-headed. Pistillate flowers campanulate; petals with wavy and indented apex.................................................................................................................................................................. C. hoffmannii

13. Styles multifid (> 12 terminal arms).......................................................................................................................... 14

- Styles 4-fid (12 terminal arms).................................................................................................................................. 15

14. Indument ferrugineous. Staminate flowers campanulate; calyx lobes not deflexed in fruit. Epicarp smooth.............. ................................................................................................................................................................. C. sexmetralis

- Indument whitish. Staminate flowers subcampanulate; calyx lobes deflexed in fruit. Epicarp warty........................... .............................................................................................................................................................. C. billbergianus

15. Pistillate flowers urn-shaped ................................................................................................................... C. spruceanus

- Pistillate flowers campanulate... 16

16. Climbing shrubs; branchlets slightly flattened. Stamens ca. 25 ....................................................... C. pseudofragrans

- Straight trees to shrubs; branchlets cylindric. Stamens ca. 15................................................................................... 17

17. Indument lepidote. Leaves elliptical, strongly discolorous. Inflorescences congested. Disk of pistillate flowers 5- segmented. Epicarp warty. Amazonian rain forests ................................................................................. C. orinocensis

- Indument pubescent. Leaves ovate, slightly discolorous. Inflorescences lax. Disk of pistillate flowers 5-lobed. Epicarp smooth. Brazilian seasonal dry forests .................................................................................... C. rottlerifolius