18. Croton lindheimerianus Scheele, Linnaea. 25: 580. 1852.
Three-seed croton Three-seed croton
Herbs, annual, 1–5 dm, monoecious. Stems dichotomously branched, densely stellate-tomentose. Leaves sometimes clustered near inflorescences; stipules rudimentary; petiole 0.5–3 cm, glands absent at apex; blade lanceolate to suborbiculate, 1–5(–8) × 0.8–2.8(–3.5) cm, base rounded, margins entire, apex rounded to acute, abaxial surface pale green, stellate-hairy, adaxial surface darker green, sparsely stellate-hairy. Inflorescences bisexual, racemes, 1–3 cm, not appearing brown-dotted, no stellate hairs with brown centers, staminate flowers 3–8, pistillate flowers 1–3. Pedicels: staminate 2–3 mm, pistillate 1–5(–15) mm. Staminate flowers: sepals (4–)5, 1.5–2 mm, abaxial surface stellate-hairy; petals 5, linear-oblong-lanceolate, 1–1.5 mm, abaxial surface glabrous except margins villous; stamens 7–9(–12). Pistillate flowers: sepals 5–6, equal, 3 mm, margins entire, apex incurved, abaxial surface stellate-hairy; petals 0; ovary 3-locular; styles 3, 2–3 mm, 2-fid to base, terminal segments 6. Capsules 4–5 × 4–4.5 mm, smooth; columella apex with 3 sharp projections. Seeds 3.2–3.6 × 1.5 mm, shiny.
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora): United States, n Mexico.
Croton lindheimerianus is one of the bifid-styled species in sect. Heptallon.
