Lobed croton Lobed croton

Croton lobatus Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 1005. 1753 (as lobatum)

Herbs, 2–10 dm. Stems erect. Leaves: stipules linear-lanceolate, 2–6 mm, sometimes split at base; petiole 2–10 cm, glands 2, papillate, lobed or digitate; blade usually deeply 3(–5)-lobed, sometimes unlobed, central lobe elliptic to oblanceolate, 3–9 × 2–10 cm, larger than lateral ones, base truncate to rounded, apex acuminate, abaxial surface hairy, adaxial surface glabrate or hairy. Inflorescences 2–6(–15) cm; staminate flowers 3–15(–20), pistillate flowers 1–5(–7). Pedicels: staminate 2–3 mm, pistillate 1–2 mm (to 3 mm in fruit). Staminate flowers: sepals usually purple-tinged, ± unequal, narrowly ovate-oblong, 1–1.3 mm, enveloping bud before anthesis, apex blunt and ± hooded; petals hyaline, oblong, 1.2–1.8 mm. Pistillate flowers: sepals oblanceolate to spatulate, 4–7 × 1–2 mm, apex acute, semiappressed-hairy; ovary usually hairy, rarely glabrous; styles 2–4.5 mm, 3-fid, each branch then 2-fid, terminal segments 18. Capsules 5–8 × 5–7 mm, sparsely hairy. Seeds 4.5–5.5 × 2.7–3.5 mm, 2.5–3 mm thick, rugulose; caruncle shortly stipitate, reniform-peltate, 0.5–0.8 × 1.2–2 mm. 2n = 18.

Flowering Jun–Nov. Open areas, disturbed habitats; 0–50 m; introduced; Fla.; Mexico; West Indies; Central America; South America; introduced also in Asia (Arabian Peninsula, India), tropical Africa.

Astraea lobata is a weedy annual widely distributed throughout the New World tropics and subtropics. It is not clear where in this area the species is native and where it has been introduced. The records from the flora area, which are restricted to Manatee, Miami-Dade, and Pinellas counties, probably represent introductions rather than natural occurrences.

Astraea lobata is highly variable and it has been divided into numerous subspecies or distinct species. It is treated here as a single species; it is not clear if any of the subspecies warrant recognition. The Florida material agrees well with the type material of the species from Veracruz, Mexico.