Common name: Woolly-white drought-weed, Turkey mullion, Doveweed
Croton setigerus Hook. APNI* Synonyms: Eremocarpus setiger (Hook.) Benth. APNI*
Croton setiger Hook. APNI*
Description: Pungently aromatic mat-forming, prostrate to semi-erect herb to 20 cm high covered with velvety-stellate indumentum. Branchlets with dense stellate trichomes.
Leaves alternate, with lamina ovate to rhombic, 8–65 mm long, 8–40 mm wide; petiole 3–45 mm long; upper surface silver-green, venation obscure, lower surface silver, both sides with dense stellate trichomes.
Male flowers 3–4 mm long, sepals valvate, 5, with dense stellate trichomes, petals absent; female flowers 6–7 mm long, sepals absent, petals absent.
Capsule oblong, 4–6 mm long, with dense, sessile, stellate trichomes; seed elliptic, smooth, shining, mottled pale grey or cream and brownish or black, caruncle absent.
Flowering: October–January; fruiting January-April.
Distribution and occurrence: Naturalised in NSW and Victoria. Also said to be naturalised in South Australia and Western Australia. Native of California, USA. Weed of cultivated ground.
NSW subdivisions: *CWS, *SWS
Other Australian states: *Vic. *S.A. *W.A.
Previously known as Eremocarpus setigerus (Hook.)Benth.
Text by Paul I. Forster
Taxon concept: A taxonomic revision of Croton L. (Euphorbiaceae) in Australia, Austrobaileya 6(3): 349-436
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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