Rediscovery of two species of Croton (Euphorbiaceae) from littoral habitats of eastern Madagascar

• DOI: 10.15553/c2017v721a5
• Publication Date: 2017-02-22T11:34:57Z
• Authors: Kent Kainulainen; Paul E. Berry; Benjamin van Ee
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; Tracheophyta; Magnoliopsida; Malpighiales; Euphorbiaceae; 14. Life underwater; Biodiversity; 15. Life on land; Plantae; 01 natural sciences; Taxonomy

Abstract Kainulainen, K., P.E. Berry & B. Van Ee (2017). Rediscovery of two species of Croton (Euphorbiaceae) from littoral habitats of eastern Madagascar. Candollea 72: 35–44. In English, English and French abstracts. Two species of Croton L. (Euphorbiaceae) previously reported only from their type specimens, Croton chapelieri Baill. and Croton vatomandrensis Leandri, are reevaluated here and found to be geographically widespread along the eastern coastline of Madagascar. We provide updated descriptions, lists of selected additional specimens, distribution maps, and photographs of both species. We also designate an epitype for Croton chapelieri and a lectotype for Croton vatomandrensis. Croton chapelieri was the source of considerable taxonomic confusion, and we treat as synonyms here for the first time Croton aymoninorum Leandri, Croton louvelii Leandri, Croton daphniphylloides Radcl.-Sm., Croton daphniphyllum Radcl.-Sm., Croton daphniphyllum var. hirsutus Radcl.-Sm., and Croton rhododendroides Radcl-Sm...