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<big>''[[Croton decaryi]]'' Leandri</big>
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Croton decaryi'' (PROTA)}}
:Protologue: Bull. Mus. natn. Hist. nat., Paris, sér. 2, 3: 370 (1931).
:Family: Euphorbiaceae
== Origin and geographic distribution ==
Dry leaves of ''Croton decaryi'' contain about 0.3% essential oil, dry stems 0.2%. The essential oil of the leaves is rich in monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. Major components are β-caryophyllene (27%), α-pinene (21%), α-humulene (19%), β-pinene (7%) and caryophyllene oxide (5%). The essential oil of the dried stem contains mainly monoterpenes and oxygenated monoterpenes, and the major components are α -pinene (26%), borneol (13%), camphene (11%), β-pinene (7%), β-caryophyllene (9%) and caryophyllene oxide (6%).
== Botany Description ==
Monoecious shrub up to 2 m tall; young twigs with short, reddish stellate hairs. Leaves opposite to whorled, simple, strongly scented; stipules small, persistent; petiole c. 1.5 cm long; blade ovate, c. 3 cm × 2 cm, base cordate, with 2 small, sessile glands, apex rounded, margins toothed, with small, cup-shaped glands in forks of veins, softly hairy on both sides, whitish beneath. Inflorescence a terminal raceme with male flowers at apex and 2–3 female flowers at base. Flowers unisexual, 5-merous, regular, white; sepals small, petals rudimentary; male flowers with short pedicel, stamens c. 15, free; female flowers with pedicel c. 2 cm long, ovary superior, rounded, 3-lobed, yellowish hairy, 3-celled, styles 3, several times 2-fid. Fruit an ovoid 3-lobed capsule, softly stellate hairy, 3-seeded.
== Other botanical information == ''Croton'' comprises about 1200 species and occurs throughout the warmer regions of the world. It is best represented in the Americas; about 65 species occur in continental Africa and about 125 in Madagascar. Almost 40 of the species from Madagascar are used in medicine, and several of them resemble morphologically ''Croton decaryi''. === ''Croton bathianus'' ===The crushed stems of ''[[Croton bathianus]]'' Leandri are added to a fermented beverage and taken as a bitter tonic. === ''Croton crocodilorum'' ===An infusion of the bitter bark of ''[[Croton crocodilorum]]'' Leandri is taken as a stimulant and aphrodisiac. === ''Croton perrieri'' ===An infusion of the grated bark of ''[[Croton perrieri]]'' Leandri is taken to treat infectious diseases.
== Ecology ==
== Author(s) ==
* G.H. Schmelzer , PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
== Correct citation of this article ==
Schmelzer, G.H., 2007. '''Croton decaryi''' Leandri. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. In: Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. <http://www.prota4u.org/search.asp>. Accessed {{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}.
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[[Category:PROTA prov]][[Category:Medicinal plants (PROTA)]]