croton

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Animals & Nature

croton

plant species

Also known as: Codiaeum variegatum, variegated laurel

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

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croton

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Category: Animals & Nature

Also called:: variegated laurel

Related Topics:: houseplant; evergreen

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croton, (Codiaeum variegatum), colourful-leaved plant of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) native to Malaysia and the Pacific and extensively cultivated. Numerous horticultural varieties of shrubs or small trees have been developed, and the plant is commonly grown outdoors in pots or as a houseplant. As with many members of the family, croton sap can be irritating to the skin, and the plant is considered poisonous. Croton trees can reach a height of about 6 metres (20 feet), though varieties kept as houseplants can be significantly smaller. The plants are evergreen with brilliantly coloured, glossy, leathery leaves. Leaf colours, mostly resulting from ...(100 of 177 words)

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