Croton guatemalensis
Lotsy
Euphorbiaceae
Croton eluterioides Lotsy
Croton pyriticus Croizat
Croton wilburii McVaugh
Common Name:
General Information
Croton guatemalensis is a shrub or small tree, sometimes growing up to 8 metres tall but usually smaller[
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, and is also cultivated as a hedge and windbreak. The bark is said to have been exported formerly to Europe for medicinal purposes.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
Range
C. America - Panama to Mexico.
Habitat
Wet to dry thickets; or rather thin, mixed forest; often on rocky hillsides; mainly at lower elevations but also ascending to 1,800 metres. Often forming thickets of wide extent on the Pacific plains and foothills[
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Tree |
| Height | 5.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Most Croton species are relatively indifferent to their habitat and can grow on a wide range of soils in both disturbed and undisturbed vegetation[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The leaves have an aroma reminiscent of oregano[
741- Title
- Rainforest Remedies: One Hundred Healing Herbs of Belize.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Arvigo R.; Balick M.
- Publisher
- Lotus Press; Wisconsin.
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
- 0-914955-13-6
- Description
- Excellent book looking at the medicinal uses of 100 plants from the rainforests of Belize. There is a line-drawing of each plant, a basic description, details of habitat and a list of traditional uses.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The bark is said to have a bitter taste, and on that account it has found application in local medicine as a remedy for intermittent fevers[
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
]. An infusion of the leaves is taken by a mother after childbirth to assist healing, and is also used to treat difficult menstruation and uterine problems[
741- Title
- Rainforest Remedies: One Hundred Healing Herbs of Belize.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Arvigo R.; Balick M.
- Publisher
- Lotus Press; Wisconsin.
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
- 0-914955-13-6
- Description
- Excellent book looking at the medicinal uses of 100 plants from the rainforests of Belize. There is a line-drawing of each plant, a basic description, details of habitat and a list of traditional uses.
].
The leaves are boiled to make a steam bath for mothers after giving birth to make sure there is no infection and that the reproductive organs return to their proper positions[
741- Title
- Rainforest Remedies: One Hundred Healing Herbs of Belize.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Arvigo R.; Balick M.
- Publisher
- Lotus Press; Wisconsin.
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
- 0-914955-13-6
- Description
- Excellent book looking at the medicinal uses of 100 plants from the rainforests of Belize. There is a line-drawing of each plant, a basic description, details of habitat and a list of traditional uses.
]. The fresh leaves are heated in oil and then applied to painful joints in order to bring relief[
741- Title
- Rainforest Remedies: One Hundred Healing Herbs of Belize.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Arvigo R.; Balick M.
- Publisher
- Lotus Press; Wisconsin.
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
- 0-914955-13-6
- Description
- Excellent book looking at the medicinal uses of 100 plants from the rainforests of Belize. There is a line-drawing of each plant, a basic description, details of habitat and a list of traditional uses.
].
Agroforestry Uses:
Often planted as a hedge, or used as a windbreak in coffee plantations in Guatemala[
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
