Croton diasii and Croton trombetensis, Two New Euphorbiaceae from Amazonian Brazil

Abstract

Two new species of Croton are de- scribed from Amazonian Brazil, Croton diasii and C. trombetensis. Croton diasii is superficially similar to C. schiedeanus, but differs in having leaves with sparse lepidote scales on the lower surface, the up- per surface glabrous, a pair of glands at the base of the blade, lack of petals in the pistillate flowers, and stamens densely villous on the lower half of the filaments. Croton trombetensis, which lacks a close affinity to any other Croton from the Brazilian Amazon, is characterized by leaves with a dense indument of stellate trichomes on both sides, a cor- date base, long acicular stipules, a robust terminal thyrse 40-46 cm long, staminate flowers in fascic- ulate cymules, and pistillate flowers mixed among the staminate ones.