Flora of Thailand
Euphorbiaceae
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K. Phattarahirankanok, K. Chayamarit & P.C. van Welzen
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Rumph. ex A.Juss., Euph. Tent. 33, t. 9. 1824; Benth. in Benth. & Hook.f., Gen. Pl. 3: 299. 1880; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 5: 399. 1887; Gagnep. in Lecomte, Fl. Indo-Chine 5: 408. 1926, Backer & Bakh.f., Fl. Java 1: 93. 1963; G.L.Webster, Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 81: 106. 1994; Radcl.-Sm., Gen. Euphorbiacearum: 301. 2001; Phattar, Chayam. & Welzen in Chayam. & Welzen, Fl. Thailand 8, 1: 186. 2005; G.L.Webster in Kubitzki, Fam. Gen. Vasc. Pl. 11: 176. 2014.— Phyllaurea Lour., Fl. Cochinch.: 575. 1790.— Crozophyla Raf., Sylva Tellur. 64. 1838.— Synaspisma Engl., Gen. Pl.: 1110. 1840.— Junghuhnia Miq., Fl. Ned. Ind. 1(2): 412. 1859 (non Corda, 1842).
Shrubs or small trees, monoecious (Thailand). Indumentum simple hairs when present. Stipules minute, caducous. Leaves alternate, simple, petiolate; blade with entire margin, sometimes lobed, sometimes undulate, cultivated ones variegated or spotted. Inflorescences racemes, axillary in upper leaves to subterminal, usually unisexual, pedunculate, bracteate, bracts with multiple flowers when staminate, a single flower when pistillate. Flowers symmetric, pedicelled; sepals (3)5(6), imbricate. Staminate flowers: petals (3)5(6) to rarely absent, small; disc glands 5-15, small, free, alternipetalous; stamens 15-100, filaments free, anthers with 2 thecae, connective broad; pistillode absent. Pistillate flowers: petals absent; disc annular; ovary 3(4)-locular; ovules 1 per locule; style absent to short, stigmas elongate, apically entire (or 2-partite). Fruits globose capsules, septicially dehiscing into 2-valved cocci; columella narrow, slightly broadened apically, persistent. Seeds obovoid, carunculate.
Genus of c. 16 species, ranging from the Philippines, Borneo and Java to the West Pacific Island arcs; a single, introduced ornamental in Thailand. Classification: Subfam. Crotonoideae, tribe Codiaeae.
Codiaeum variegatum (L.) A.Juss., Euphorb. Gen.: 33, t. 9. 1824; Blume, Bijdr. 606. 1825 (pro comb. nov.); Parham, Pl. Fiji Is.: 179. 1972; Phattar, Chayam. & Welzen in Chayam. & Welzen, Fl. Thailand 8, 1: 188. 2005.— Croton variegatus L., Sp. Pl.: 1199. 1753. — Phyllaurea codiaeum Lour., Fl. Cochinch. 575. 1790.— Crozophyla picta Raf., Sylva Tellur. 64. 1838.— Junghuhnia glabra Miq., Fl. Ind. Bat. i. II. 412. 1859.
Ornamental shrubs up to 3 m. Indumentum mainly absent. Cultivated for the showy leaves, these extremely variable among the various races, blade up to 30 cm long, always variegated or spotted, sometimes only the lower surface dark purplish and the upper green, usually venation yellowish or reddish to dark purplish, in some races leaves spotted with usually yellow dots, broader leaves often lobed, the linear ones often very undulate, sometimes midrib subapically detached and elongated, sometimes with a leaf-like appendix, base cuneate, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescences up to 10—30 cm long, with white flowers. Staminate flowers 30-60 per inflorescence, 0.5—1 cm in diameter; pedicel 2.5-3 cm long; sepals 5; stamens numerous. Pistillate fowers 10-20 per inflorescence; ovary 3-locular, style c. 2 mm long. Fruits subglobose, c. 1 cm in diameter. Seeds subglobose.
T h a i l a n d.— Cultivated, present in most gardens.
D i s t r i b u t i o n.— Java, Philippines, Celebes, Moluccas, Lesser Sunda Islands, New Guinea, Australia, West Pacific Island arcs up to Fiji.
V e r n a c u l a r.— Koson (โกสน), ko ton (โกรต๋น), kri krasom (กรีกะสม), kri sa ke (กรีสาเก) (General); Croton (English; do not confuse with the genus of the same name).
U s e s.— Ornamental plant for its variegated leaves, many races.