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<big>''[[Croton lobatus]]'' L.</big>
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Croton lobatus'' (PROTA)}}
:Protologue: Sp. pl. 2: 1005 (1753).
:Family: Euphorbiaceae
:Chromosome number: ''n'' = 9 == Synonyms ==
== Vernacular names ==
*Lobed croton (En). *Velame pó de galinha (Po).
== Origin and geographic distribution ==
A methanolic root extract showed significant antiplasmodial activity, against strains that are sensitive to chloroquine as well as resistant ones.
== Botany Description ==
Monoecious branched, annual herb up to 1 m tall; taproot long; branches densely stellate hairy. Leaves alternate, lobed; stipules small, filiform; petiole up to 10 cm long; blade deeply 3–5-lobed, in outline 2.5–10 cm in diameter, lobes oblanceolate to obovate, basal glands absent, apex acuminate, margins toothed, stellate hairy to almost glabrous on both sides. Inflorescence a slender, axillary or terminal raceme up to 12.5 cm long, with small male flowers in upper half and female flowers in lower half. Flowers unisexual, 5-merous, regular, yellowish green; pedicel short; male flowers with elliptical sepals c. 2 mm long, petals oblanceolate, c. 2 mm long, stamens 10–13, free; female flowers with linear-lanceolate sepals c. 5 mm long, petals represented by a hair c. 1.5 mm long, ovary superior, rounded, densely hairy, 3-celled, styles 3, deeply 2-fid, lobes linear. Fruit an almost globular capsule c. 7 mm in diameter, stellate hairy, green, 3-seeded. Seeds ellipsoid, c. 6 mm × 3 mm, covered with wart-like protuberances. Seedling with epigeal germination.
== 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. ''Croton lobatus'' is a host of nematodes (''Meloidogyne'' spp.), of fungi causing powdery mildew, and of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV).
== Description ==
== 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 lobatus''' L. [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)]]