Euphorbiaceae FAMILY

Croton guatemalensis

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

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.

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeC. America - Panama to Mexico.

HabitatWet 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/ ].