Croton L.

12 species in Aust.; Qld, NSW, NT

Tall shrubs or small trees, usually monoecious. Leaves spirally arranged, petiolate, usually with 2 stipitate glands near the base of the lamina; stipules minute. Flowers small, in clusters along the rhachis of a terminal raceme with the males chiefly or entirely in the upper portion. Sepals usually 5. Petals as many as sepals and c. as long. Male flowers: glands alternating with petals; stamens c. 11, free, inflexed in bud, inserted on an expanded disc. Female flowers: ovary usually 3-locular, with 1 ovule per loculus; styles usually 3, 2–4-fid. Fruit globose.