Croton caudatus (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Croton caudatus Geiseler

Protologue: Croton. Monogr.: 73 (1807).

• Malaysia: gurah periat, tukul takal, mendarong akar (Peninsular)
• Philippines: alimpai (Tagalog)
• Thailand: krado hot bai khon (south-eastern)
• Vietnam: ba dậu leo, cù dèn duôi.

From the Eastern Himalayas to Sri Lanka, to South-East Asia and throughout West Malesia to the Philippines and Sulawesi.

A decoction of the roots alleviates constipation, fever, and colds. In Indonesia, dried bark is used to relieve stomach disorders. In India, the leaves are applied as a poultice to sprains. Twigs may be used for basketry.

• A woody climber up to 27 m tall.
• Leaves ovate, 5-18 cm × 2.5-11 cm, base cordate, with two stalked glands, with 5 palmate nerves, apex acuminate, margin shallowly serrate with glands in teeth, lower surface with scattered stellate hairs, stipules caducous, (0.2-)1-1.5 cm long.
• Inflorescence with stellate hairs.
• Staminate flowers with obovate petals, stamens 18-32, disk glands hairy; pistillate flowers with oblong petals, small, pilose, ovary with long stellate hairs.
• Fruit subglobose, 12-18 mm in diameter, finely 6-grooved, warty, stellate hairy.
• Seed with scattered stellate hairs.

C. caudatus is found in primary and secondary forest and brushwood, up to 1000 m altitude. It flowers throughout the year.

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• Croton (Medicinal plants)

• P.C. van Welzen & H.J. Esser