Orange Leaf Croton
C. dichogamus
Observed along nature trail with specimen labels near the Giraffe Center, Nairobi, Kenya. July 2014.
SHRUB: The numerous slender branches are
normally less than 3 meters tall.
FLOWERS: Small white flowers.
LEAVES: Leaves are lance-shaped to elliptic with conspicuous white to rusty
silvery pubescence below. As the leaves senesce, bright
orange pigments are revealed and these dying leaves remain
attached for an extended time rather than dropping.
RANGE: Reported from the Nairobi area and Massai Mara. This
example was labeled on the nature trail at the Giraffe Center in Nairobi.
A similar Croton was found near Iten. There are many
Croton species, and further complicating matters the
individual species can display a wide range of phenotypes between locations and habitat types.
FRUIT: The seed pods are spherical and a little bigger
than a pea and like all spurges are three-parted.
UNARMED. Without thorns.