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Croton

Croton megalocarpus

Croton megalocarpus, a forest tree common in Nairobi area of Kenya, photo © by Michael Plagens

Observed blooming on the grounds of Nairobi National Museum, Kenya. March 2011. Close-up of nut-like fruit below which are about 2 cm in dia.

Croton megalocarpus, a forest tree common in Nairobi area of Kenya, photo © by Michael Plagens

TREE: Becomes a large forest tree with horizontal layers of branches. There are many Croton species and this may be the largest.

FLOWERS: Long spikes of cream-colored flowers to 25 cm in length. Each cluster of flowers along the spike represent many very small flowers.

LEAVES: Leaves are about 10 cm long and elyptic in shape. The upper side is green and the lower side is silvery with minute star-shaped hairs.

RANGE: Indigenous tree of seasonally dry forests in upland areas of Kenya.

FRUIT: The seed pods have a rough, granular coat and inside are three large seeds.

UNARMED. Without thorns.

Euphorbiaceae -- Spurge Family

an insect gall on leaf of Croton megalocarpus, an indigenous tree common in Nairobi area of Kenya, photo © by Michael Plagens an insect gall on leaf of Croton megalocarpus, an indigenous tree common in Nairobi area of Kenya, photo © by Michael Plagens

This leaf gall is induced by the feeding of a minute insect larva.
Top side and underside of leaf.
It could be a gall wasp or else a gall fly (Cecidomyiidae). Nairobi. March 2013.

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Kenya Natural History

Copyright Michael J. Plagens, Created on 2 October 2011,
updated 6 Jan. 2015