Croton, tropic (Croton glandulosus var. septentrionalis)

A summer annual that ranges from 4 to 20 inches in height with toothed leaves and white, disc-like glands that occur above and below the petiole at the point of attachment to the stem. Tropic croton is sometimes confused with eclipta. However, the leaves of eclipta are more linear in outline and arranged oppositely along the stem, unlike the alternate leaves of tropic croton. Prickly sida, or teaweed, also resembles tropic croton in growth habit and appearance. Prickly sida has linear stipules at the base of the petiole but lacks the glands that occur on tropic croton. The stems of tropic croton are also much hairier than those of prickly sida.

IPM1007, revised June 2007