Texas Wildbuds
Croton ciliatoglandulifer
(Mexican Croton)
Croton ciliatoglandulifer, Falcon State Park, Starr Co. 3963
Croton ciliatoglandulifer, Falcon State Park, Starr Co. 3950
Croton ciliatoglandulifer, Falcon State Park, Starr Co. 4418
Croton ciliatoglandulifer, Falcon State Park, Starr Co. 3953
Croton ciliatoglandulifer, Falcon State Park, Starr Co. 4403
Croton ciliatoglandulifer, Falcon State Park, Starr Co. 4410
| Scientific Name | Croton ciliatoglandulifer | USDA PLANTS Symbol | CRCI |
| Common Name | Mexican Croton, Bush Croton | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 28267 |
| Family | Euphorbiaceae (Spurge) | SEINet Reference |
Click Here |
| Description | Habitat: Sandy or rocky soils flats, brushlands; in the US, primarily in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, widespread in Mexico. Plant: Perennial shrub with weak, branched and hairy stems 8 to 40 inches tall. Leaves: Broad, ovate blades 1.2 to 3.2 inches long; surfaces are dark green and covered with stellate (star-shaped) hairs, the lower surface moreso than the upper; edges are ciliate with short, stalked, glandular hairs; on petioles 1/2 to 3/4 the length of the blades. Inflorescence: Small blossoms (~1/3 to 1/2-inch across) in bisexual, terminal racemes about 3/8-inch long or less with 3 to 10 staminate (male) flowers and 1 to 8 pistillate (female) flowers; each staminate flower on a short (1.5 mm or less) pedicel with 5 glandular-hairy sepals and white petals, and 20 to 30 protruding stamens; each pistillate flower on a pedical 2 to 3 mm long, with 5 equal, glandular-hairy sepals, no petals, and 3 branching styles. Bloom Period: Nearly year-round. Fruit: Nearly round, smooth capsule with 3 inflated lobes, about 1/4-inch diameter. References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, Flora of North America, SEINet and iNaturalist. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key | Texas Status: Native |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2026
Every attempt is made to provide accurate, up-to-date, and relevant information, but the completeness or accuracy of any information presented on this website cannot be guaranteed. I use authoritative references to insure high standards of accuracy and review and update the information frequently.