Scientific Name: Croton insularis

Prev Next
Print This Page
  • Pronunciation:
    CROW-ton in-shoo-LAR-is
  • Common Name:
    Native Cascarilla Bark, Silver Croton
  • Derivation:
    Croton: Gr. croton - a tick - seed resembles a tick (Dr. James Crow d. 1807 English surgeon exp. in mosses, fungi and willows) insularis: L. insularis - pertaining to islands
  • Type:
    small tree to 15 metres
  • Family:
    EUPHORBIACEAE
  • Flowers:
    cream to silvery-brown on slender racemes from leaf axils or terminal. Separate male and female flowers on same raceme. October.
  • Fruit:
    Capsule, small grey, globular 6 mm dia. Ripe November-January.
  • Vegetation Type:
    Sub-tropical rainforest, Dry Rainforest, remnant in scrubby areas
  • Species List:
    Batianoff 87,
Cultural Notes

Bark from this tree provides a brown dye.

Identification Notes

Densely branched with leafy canopy. Branchlets scaly. Ageing leaves change to bright orange/red. Leaves: simple, alternate, margins sometimes wavy. Silver scaly below. Midrib distinct, raised below. 2 small glands at base.

Landscaping Notes

Fire retardant species.