North Carolina Wildflowers, Shrubs, & Trees

by Jeffrey S. Pippen | Back to Jeff's Plant Page | Jeff's Nature Pages


Euphorbiaceae > Croton (Croton, Doveweed, Rushfoil)

Silverleaf Croton, Beach-tea, Gulf Croton (Croton punctatus) Silverleaf Croton, Beach-tea, Gulf Croton (Croton punctatus)
New Hanover Co., NC
26 Aug 2006

Common in beach dunes and other sandy areas along the immediate NC coast.

Silverleaf Croton, Beach-tea, Gulf Croton (Croton punctatus) Silverleaf Croton, Beach-tea, Gulf Croton (Croton punctatus)
New Hanover Co., NC
26 Aug 2006

Young fruit, a 3-locular capsule.

Silverleaf Croton, Beach-tea, Gulf Croton (Croton punctatus) Silverleaf Croton, Beach-tea, Gulf Croton (Croton punctatus)
New Hanover Co., NC
26 Aug 2006

Silverleaf Croton, Beach-tea, Gulf Croton (Croton punctatus) Silverleaf Croton, Beach-tea, Gulf Croton (Croton punctatus)
New Hanover Co., NC
26 Aug 2006

Appearing shrubby, this species is actually an annual or sometimes a short-lived perennial.


Glade Rushfoil, Outcrop Rushfoil, Willdenow's Croton (Croton willdenowii, Crotonopsis elliptica) Glade Rushfoil, Outcrop Rushfoil, Willdenow's Croton (Croton willdenowii, Crotonopsis elliptica)
Thin soils on granite outcrop in Alexander Co., NC
3 July 2009

Common statewide in NC in habitats ranging from rock outcrops to dry sandy soils.

Glade Rushfoil, Outcrop Rushfoil, Willdenow's Croton (Croton willdenowii, Crotonopsis elliptica) Glade Rushfoil, Outcrop Rushfoil, Willdenow's Croton (Croton willdenowii, Crotonopsis elliptica)
Thin soils on granite outcrop in Alexander Co., NC
3 July 2009

Leaves are nearly sessile, have entire margins, and are quite small.

Glade Rushfoil, Outcrop Rushfoil, Willdenow's Croton (Croton willdenowii, Crotonopsis elliptica) Glade Rushfoil, Outcrop Rushfoil, Willdenow's Croton (Croton willdenowii, Crotonopsis elliptica)
Thin soils on granite outcrop in Alexander Co., NC
3 July 2009

As you can see by the list of names above, this plant has had an identity crisis...


Annotated habitat and distribution information listed above is from Radford, Ahles, & Bell. 1968. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. UNC Press; Alan Weakley's Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Georgia; and from personal observations and discussions with Will Cook, Harry LeGrand, and Bob Wilbur. Supplemental resources include USDA plants website, and NatureServe.


Back to Jeff's Plant Page | Jeff's Butterfly Page | Jeff's Nature Page

Created on ... Sep 9, 2006 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com