This species is often better known as Croton roxburghii N.P.Balakr. (as in the Flora of Thailand[]). We are following the treatment in the 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families'[].

Common Name:

General Information

Croton persimilis is a deciduous shrub or tree usually growing up to 10 metres tall, occasionally to 15 metres. The bole can be 25cm in diameter[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local medicinal use. It is sometimes grown as a hedge and is often planted as an ornamental, being valued especially for the brilliant red colour of its leaves before they fall[]. The plant is also used as a rootstock for commercially cultivated Croton stellatopilosus plants.

Known Hazards

The seed oil is very similar to that of Croton tiglium, and the seeds are likewise purgative and considered poisonous[]. Croton oil, obtained from the seed, is heavily irritating; contact with the skin causes inflammation and oedema[].
The toxic principles are crotonol, an extremely vesicant resin; and crotin, a delayed-action poison which causes blood-clotting. Symptoms of croton oil poisoning are firstly pain at the back of the throat, then in the anus. A dose of bismuth is an immediate antidote[].
Several esters of the diterpene phorbol have been isolated from croton resin. These are extremely irritant and also tumour promotors. Their presence in Croton tiglium and other Croton species means their consumption is sometimes held responsible for certain forms of nasopharyngeal cancer as they are able to activate Epstein-Barr viruses[, ].

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southern China, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam.

Habitat

Mixed and dry deciduous/evergreen forest; dipterocarp-oak forest; disturbed hill and dry evergreen forest; Imperata or bamboo vegetation; fire-prone areas; secondary growth; road sides; old clearings; rocky slopes; at elevations up to 950 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	8.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant is found in the wild on limestone, sandstone, basalt or granite soils[].
The flowers are scented or with a foetid odour[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The bark is applied topically to treat sprains[]

The leaves and the heartwood are used externally to treat sprains[].

A hot decoction of the leaves is used to treat scabies[]. The pounded leaves are used to relieve the bites of insects[]. The boiled leaves, combined with Zingiber, Antidesma, etc., are used to make a bath for women after giving birth[]. The boiled leaves are also used as a vapour bath to aid recovery from fevers[]. The mashed leaves, combined with salt, Cymbogon etc., are used as a plaster for broken bones[].
In Thai traditional medicine, the plant is commonly used in combination with Croton stellatopilosus H.Ohba for many purposes, including as as an antihelminthic agent, digestant, tranquilizer, as a treatment for stomach ache and as a dermatological agent for treating skin diseases[].

The seed oil is purgative[].

Several esters of the diterpene phorbol have been isolated from croton resin. Some of these have shown antileukaemic activity but in general, however, these phorbol esters as found in this and many other Croton species are extremely irritant and also tumour promotors. Their presence in Croton tiglium and Croton flavens means their consumption is sometimes held responsible for certain forms of nasopharyngeal cancer as they are able to activate Epstein-Barr viruses[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is often planted as a fast-growing living fence[].

Other Uses

The plant can be successfully used as a rootstock for commercially cultivated strains of Croton stellatopilosus in order to provide protection from root rot.[]

The yellowish-white wood is coarse-grained and moderately hard. It is mainly used for fuel[, ].

Propagation

Seed -

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