Croton persimilis is a species of tree in the Euphorbiaceae family. It is native to an area from Thailand in mainland Southeast Asia to southern Yunnan, China and to the Indian subcontinent. It is a pioneer species with a short life span. The plant is used in the traditional medicines of various peoples.
Description
This tree has leaves that are either coarsely dentate, serrate or crenate, prominently-lobed subglobose fruit some 10 x 8–12 mm in size, and peltate/shield-like indumentum (hair covering on the plant), with rays of scales radiating in 1 plane (at least 80% webbing, rays free of such for only some 20% of total length).[2]
Distribution
This species is native to Mainland Southeast Asia, southern Yunnan (Zhōngguó/China) and the Indian subcontinent.[1] Countries and regions in which it occurs include: Thailand; Cambodia; Vietnam; Zhōngguó/China (southern Yunnan); Laos, Myanmar; India (including Assam); Bangladesh; East Himalaya; Sri Lanka
Habitat and ecology
The tree is a pioneer species, with a short lifespan.[3]
Villagers living on the plateau of Phnom Kulen National Park, Siem Reap Province, northwestern Cambodia, use dried pieces of the trunk and branches to make a "green tea" to treat stomachache, and use the wood-chips mixed with other plants in a decoction for postpartum care.[7]
Four ethnic groups living in the Wayanad District, Kerala, India, the Kattunaikkan, Kuruchiyar, Mullakuruman, and Adiyan people, use the plant to treat inflammation.[10]
History
The species was first described in 1865 by the Swiss botanist Johann Müller (1828–96), known in botany (because of his sharing a quite common name) as Johannes Müller Argoviensis. He specialized in lichens. The description was published in the journal Linnaea; Ein Journal für die Botanik in ihrem ganzen Umfange, (Berlin).[11]
Justification of the broader spread of this description was published by the Indian botanists T. Chakrabarty and Nambiyath Puthansurayil Balakrishnan in their 2017 publication.[2]
Further reading
Further information of this taxa can be found at the following sources:[1]
Balakrishnan & Chakrabarty, 2007, The family Euphorbiaceae in India: A synopsis of its profile, taxonomy and bibliography
Chayamarit & Van Welzen, 2005, 'Euphorbiaceae', Flora of Thailand 8(1)
Govaerts, 1999, World Checklist of Seed Plants 3(1, 2a & 2b) [cites as Croton joufra]
Govaerts et al., 2000, World Checklist and Bibliography of Euphorbiaceae (and Pandaceae) [cites as Croton joufra]
Khan & Khan, 2002, 'Taxonomic and distributional notes on the species' Bangladesh Journal of Plant Taxonomy 9(1):77-80
Pasha et al., 2013, 'A taxonomic revision of Croton L. (Euphorbiaceae)', Bangladesh Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 37:379-389.
^ abJaroenngarmsamer, Pongsak; Ounprasertsuk, Jatuporn; Krutchangthong, Pradapet; Dumklieng, Wanna (2019). "Herbal, postpartum care in Thai Traditional Medicine". The ICBTS 2019 International Academic Research Conference in London: 292. Retrieved 2 March 2021.