Common Name:

General Information

Croton matourensis is an evergreen tree with a low, globose crown; it can grow 4 - 25 metres tall. The upright, cylindrical bole can be 25 - 75cm in diameter and unbranched for about 3 metres[, ].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and for its timber. It is suitable for use as a pioneer species for re-establishing native forest[].
Croton matourensis has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama, Costa Rica.

Habitat

Rainforest, in areas not subject to seasonal inundation[]. Found mainly in secondary formations, occasionally also in primary forest, on slopes in well-exposed banks, where the soil is well-drained, clayey or rocky and of low fertility[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	6.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in full sun and in dappled shade[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[]. Most Croton species are relatively indifferent to their habitat and can grow on a wide range of soils in both disturbed and undisturbed vegetation[].
A fast-growing tree[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The bark, macerated in fresh water, is used as a treatment against diarrhoea[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A fast-growing, natural pioneer species, it is suitable for use in reforestation projects for restoring native woodland[].

Other Uses

The heartwood is a dark purplish brown; it is clearly demarcated from the uniform pale yellow sapwood, which turns to light brown on exposure. The wood is medium-textured, straight-grained, highly lustrous. It is light in weight (or moderately heavy according to another report[]), firm, strong for its weight, with poor mechanical properties and not very durable. It is moderately hard to cut, saws slightly woolly and holds its place well when finished. It is used locally in general construction, mainly for internal use, light cabinet making, boxes etc[, ].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a sunny position in a nursery seedbed. A high germination rate can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 14 - 21 days[].

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