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<big>''[[Croton myriaster]]'' Baker</big>
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Croton myriaster'' (PROTA)}}
:Protologue: Journ. Bot. 20: 268 (1882).
:Family: Euphorbiaceae
== Origin and geographic distribution ==
The bark contains traces of alkaloids, but none have been detected in the leaves.
== Botany Description ==
Monoecious shrub or small tree up to 10 m tall; stem up to 20 cm in diameter; young twigs with short stellate hairs. Leaves alternate, simple, strongly scented; stipules small; petiole 1.5–2.5 cm long; blade ovate-lanceolate, 8–15 cm × 2.5–5.5 cm, base rounded, with 2 small, brown, sessile glands, apex acuminate, margins toothed, short-hairy, lower surface whitish. Inflorescence a terminal or axillary raceme, with male flowers at end and 2–3 female flowers at base. Flowers unisexual, regular, 5-merous, white to pale green or pale yellow; sepals small, brownish hairy, petals tiny; male flowers with short pedicel, stamens 12–16, free; female flower with pedicel enlarging in fruit to c. 2 cm long, ovary superior, 3-lobed, with pale brown hairs, 3-celled, styles 3, several times 2-fid at apex. Fruit a 3-lobed capsule c. 12 mm × 10 mm, hard, with glandular hairs, reddish brown, 3-seeded. Seeds ovoid, c. 7 mm long, grooved.
== Other botanical information == ''Croton'' comprises about 1200 species and occurs throughout the warmer regions of the world. It is best represented in the Americas; in continental Africa about 65 species occur and in Madagascar about 125. Almost 40 species from Madagascar are used in medicine, and several of them are morphologically close to ''Croton myriaster''. Mattresses are filled with the strong smelling branches of ''[[Croton meridionalis]]'' Leandri, ''[[Croton salviformis]]'' Baill. and ''[[Croton tranomarensis]]'' Leandri to act as an insect repellent. The powder of the aerial parts of ''Croton meridionalis'' is added to bait as rat poison. A leaf infusion of ''[[Croton bemaranus]]'' Leandri is taken as a digestive. A leaf decoction of ''[[Croton goudotii]]'' Baill. is inhaled to treat malaria; a bark decoction is taken to treat chronic gonorrhoea. The latter is also used as a vapour bath and wash, and is taken orally to calm pain.
== 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 myriaster''' Baker. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. 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)]]
