Welcome to Catnapin's
Most Excellent Weed Gallery
The Euphorbs - Croton Genus
Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family
Woolly Croton (Hogwort, Doveweed) Croton capitatus
Small clusters of tiny white flowers are very hairy, at the end of
branches. Male and female flowers grow on separate branches on
the same plant (monoecious). Female flowers are tightly
clustered. Three sided fruit grows inside a flat topped ball of
seven fuzzy bracts. Lanceolate leaves, up to 4" long, have dense white
hairs. Hairs on stems is whitish. Plant grows to about 2
feet tall. Single stem from base then widely branching
(tree-like). Blooms summer through fall.
Photos taken in Van Zandt County, Texas, November 2006
(Native of Texas, east, south - Eastland, Brown)
Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family
Grassland Croton (Rosval, Hieba del Gato, Rubaldo) Croton dioicus
Flower stalk 1"-2" long. Flower balls are about 1/8" wide. Long leaves are dull green and gray below,
wider at the tip. Stem is white. Plant shown 1-3 feet tall.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, April 2004, April 2005
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Coleman, Coke, Nolan)
Female Specimen - Fruit
Male Specimen
Flower stalk 1"-2" long. Flower balls are about 1/8" wide. Long leaves are dull green and gray below,
wider at the tip. Stem is white. Plant shown 1-3 feet tall.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, October 2005
Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family
Tropic Croton (Northern Croton, Vente Conmigo) Croton glandulosus
Flower about 1/4" wide in clusters of about 5/8" wide. Long, thick
leaves with prominent teeth and center vein. Plant 6"-20" tall.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, June 2004, August 2005
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Jones, Brown)
Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family
Three-seed Croton Croton lindheimerianus
Prominent flower about 1/4" wide in clusters of about 1" wide. Long,
grayish hairy leaves. Fruit is about 1/4" round. Plant 4"-8" tall.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, May 2004
(Native of Texas - Coleman, Brown)
Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family
Prairie Tea (One-seed Croton) Croton monanthogynus
Flower ball looks prickly, 1/2" wide. Oblong leaves are about 1" long,
gray underneath. Tan to red-brown stems. Sprawling plant about 12" wide.
The leaves resemble those of cultivated tea plants but are not suitable for
drinking.
Two stigmas are 2-parted. Male flowers with only about 5 stamens.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, October 2004
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Jones, Coleman, Brown, Runnels, Coke)
Second Specimen
This plant does not have the typical brown-dotted leaves.
Flower cluster is about 1" wide. Male and female flowers are in the same
clusters. Leaves are 1"-2" long, green on top and gray
below. Stem is white/tan. Plant shown 12"-18" tall.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, July 2005
Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family
Leather-weed Croton Croton pottsii
Flower ball about 3/4" wide. Flower is somewhat yellow. Long
leaves are gray/green. Pods are about 1/4" wide Plant is somewhat sprawling, and possibly 12" wide.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, August 2004
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Coleman, Runnels, Coke)
Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family
Texas Croton Croton texensis
Flower head about 1" wide
with divided stigmas. Fruit is scruffy with male and female flowers on
separate plants (dioecious). 1 1/2" long thin leaves, hairy (star-like) are green on top and gray below
(hairier). Stem is white. Plant form has a trunk and many branches. Plant shown about 18" tall.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, June 2004
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Callahan, Coleman, Brown, Coke)