Wild rosemary, Snowhitecroton
Croton niveus

Family: Euphorbiaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 2-10 m tall. The stems are leafy. The leaves are 3-14 cm long by 2-10 cm wide. The flowering shoots are in the axils of leaves. The flowers are white. The fruit are 9-24 mm long by 9-20 mm wide.

The dried leaves and bark are used as medicine.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In Central America, it grows from 50-1,800 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Aruba, Bahamas, Belize, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Greater Antilles, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Trinidad, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The bark is used as a spice.

Edible parts

Bark - spice

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Copalchi, Quisarra copalchi, Uvitas, Vara blanca

Synonyms

Berhamia hispida Klotzsch; Berhamia macrostachya Klotzsch; Berhamia panamensis Klotzsch; Croton dentatus Sm.; Croton populifolius Mill.; Croton populifolius var. genuinus Müll.Arg.; Croton pseudochina Schltdl.; Croton pseudochina var. minor Schltdl. & Cham.; Croton septemnervius McVaugh; Croton syringifolius Kunth; Kurkas populifolium (Mill.) Raf.; Oxydectes nivea (Jacq.) Kuntze; Oxydectes populifolia (Mill.) Kuntze;