Croton setiger
Hook.Mat-forming herb to c. 20 cm high and c. 80 cm wide, usually greyish from a covering of fine stellate hairs, each usually with an elongted central bristle; stems dichotomously branched. Leaves ovate to rhombic, 1–4 cm long, 0.5–3 cm wide, densely stellate-pubescent; petiole 1–5 cm long. Male flowers with calyx c. 2 mm long; calyx teeth ovate, slightly imbricate; filaments inflexed in bud, anthers linear, c. 1 mm long. Capsule ovoid, c. 4 mm long, stellate-pubescent; seed oblong, c. 3.5 mm long, c. 2 mm wide, smooth, shiny, mottled grey and brown or black. Flowers summer.
MuF, NIS. Also naturalised WA, SA, NSW. A weed of pastures that has become established in the north-east of Victoria near Barmah, Corowa, Granya and along the Kiewa River, and also in the Licola area.
Jeanes, J.A. (1999). Euphorbiaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Cornaceae to Asteraceae, pp. 55–82. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Synonyms
Forster, P.I. (2003). A taxonomic revision of Croton L. (Euphorbiaceae) in Australia Austrobaileya . *Austrobaileya * 6(3): 410–412.
