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Croton myriaster is a species of flowering small tree or shrub in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. It is endemic to Madagascar, where it occurs primarily in humid and subhumid montane forests.
Croton myriaster was first described by John Gilbert Baker in 1882 and has since been included in several taxonomic treatments of Euphorbiaceae and Malagasy flora, with three later names now treated as synonyms.
The bark contains trace amounts of alkaloids, although none have been detected in the leaves.
Croton myriaster occurs in humid and subhumid montane forest in Madagascar at elevations of approximately 800–1,700 m (2,600–5,600 ft). The humid and subhumid bioclimatic zones cover the eastern and central plateaus of Madagascar. These forests are characterised by high annual rainfall (about 1,500–2,400 mm (59–94 in)), a short or absent dry season, and predominantly evergreen vegetation. At higher altitudes, frequent cloud condensation compensates for reduced rainfall. They typically have a closed, multi-layered canopy and a dense understorey, with canopy height declining with increasing elevation. Tree diversity is high, and members of Euphorbiaceae, including Croton, are among several understory and mid-layer trees and shrubs that are dominant within these ecosystems. Other common families include Annonaceae, Apocynaceae, Melastomataceae, Rubiaceae, and Sapindaceae.
Croton myriaster has recorded traditional medicinal uses. A decoction prepared from the aerial parts is administered to children for epileptic attacks, and inhalations are used in the treatment of headaches. Croton myriaster is considered morphologically close to several other Malagasy medicinal species within the genus, with almost 40 Croton species from Madagascar being used in medicine. The wood is also known to be used as firewood.
Croton adenophorus · Texabama Croton · Alabama croton · Healing croton · Croton aromaticus · Croton barahonensis · California croton · Hogwort · Croton chilensis · Chittagong Croton · Mexican croton · Cortez's croton
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Croton myriaster by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
