Croton setigerus

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids I
Ordo: Malpighiales

Familia: Euphorbiaceae
Subfamilia: Crotonoideae
Tribus: Crotoneae
Genus: Croton
Species: Croton setiger
Name

Croton setiger Hook., 1838
Synonyms

Homotypic
Eremocarpus setiger (Hook.) Benth., Bot. Voy. Sulphur: 53 (1844).
Piscaria setigera (Hook.) Piper, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 11: 382 (1906).

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Northern America
Regional: Western USA
Arizona; California; Idaho; Nevada; Oregon; Utah; Washington
Regional: Mexico
Mexico Northwest

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Hooker, W.J. 1834–1840. Flora Boreali-Americana, or, the botany of the northern parts of British America. Vol. 2. pp. 1–328. H.G. Bohn, London. BHL Reference page. : 2:141.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2020. Croton setiger in World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2020 Jun 15. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2020. Croton setiger. Published online. Accessed: Jun 15 2020.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2020. Croton setiger in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2020 Jun 15. Reference page.
Tropicos.org 2020. Croton setiger. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2020 Jun 15.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Croton setiger in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 07-Oct-06.

Vernacular names

Croton setiger is a species of plant known as turkey mullein and dove weed. It is native to most of the western United States and northwest Mexico. It has naturalized elsewhere, including parts of Australia. It is sometimes spelled Croton setigerus and was formerly known as Eremocarpus setigerus.[1][2][3][4][5]

This is a squat plant with furry, feltlike, hexagon shaped leaves, pale pink green in color. The small green flowers are covered in soft bristles.
Cultivation

Croton setigerus is used as an ornamental plant, its low and rounded form fills a pot.

The foliage is toxic to animals, and the crushed plants were used by Native Americans to stupefy fish and make them easy to catch. When crushed, the leaves have a sweet odor that some find unpleasant.

Despite the plant's toxicity to some species, the seeds are eaten by birds.[5] The common names of the plant come from the affinity of doves and wild turkeys for the seeds.
References

"Croton setiger Hook". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanical Gardens Kew. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
CalFlora Database — Croton setigerus (dove weed
CalFlora Database — Eremocarpus setigerus (dove weed, turkey mullein)
USDA Plants Profile: Croton setigerus (dove weed)
Jepson Manual Treatment: Croton setigerus)