Details Top

Internal ID UUID64403665654fb155471710
Scientific name Croton aromaticus
Authority L.
First published in Sp. Pl. : 1005 (1753)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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General Uses Top

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Common products:
- Ornamental potted plants and landscape shrubs marketed for their fragrant foliage. Croton aromaticus L. is sold by commercial nurseries in Florida, the Caribbean, and tropical Asia under names such as “Aromatic Croton” and “Fragrant Croton.” Plants are supplied to garden centers, landscape contractors, and public‑space planting projects as a low‑maintenance evergreen with a citrus‑like scent released when the leaves are bruised or brushed.

Properties relevant to use:
- The leaves contain a volatile oil dominated by limonene (≈30 % of the oil), α‑pinene (≈12 %), β‑pinene (≈8 %) and minor sesquiterpenes such as (E)‑caryophyllene. These monoterpenes impart a strong, fresh citrus odor that is attractive in ornamental horticulture and can serve as a raw fragrance component. The oil is present at concentrations of 0.5–1.2 % (fresh‑weight) in leaf tissue, supporting its role as a scent‑giving commodity.

Standards and regulation:
- Trade of C. aromaticus as an ornamental follows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) regulations for imported ornamental plants, requiring phytosanitary certificates and inspection for pests and diseases. International trade is governed by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) standards for plant material, ensuring compliance with national plant‑health regulations and facilitating safe movement of cultivated stock.

Sustainability and sourcing:
- Commercial production relies on nursery propagation by semi‑hardwood cuttings taken in late spring or by seed, with rooted cuttings typically ready for sale within 4–6 weeks under mist conditions. The species is listed as not threatened, and cultivated specimens are harvested from managed stands rather than wild populations, reducing ecological pressure. Nursery managers employ integrated pest management (IPM) practices and adhere to regional horticultural certification programs to maintain plant health and meet market demand without depleting natural resources.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Cascarilla aromatica Raf. Sylva Tellur. : 62 (1838)
Oxydectes aromatica (L.) Kuntze Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 611 (1891)
Oxydectes laccifera Kuntze Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 610 (1891)
Croton aromaticus var. lacciferus (L.) Trimen Handb. Fl. Ceylon 4: 48 1898
Croton tiliifolius var. aromaticus (L.) Lam. Encycl. 2: 206. 1786
Aleurites laccifer (L.) Willd. Sp. Pl., ed. 4 , 4: 590 (1805)
Croton laccifer L. Sp. Pl. : 1005 (1753)
Croton aromaticus var. laccifer (L.) Trimen Handb. Fl. Ceylon 4: 48. 1898

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
Arabic كروتون عطري
French oxydectes aromatica
French cascarilla aromatica
French croton tiliifolius var. aromaticus
Malayalam തേപ്പാടി

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native

Links to other databases Top

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Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000927362
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:342795-1
The Plant List kew-50277
Open Tree Of Life 3914041
IPNI 342795-1
GBIF 3059838
EOL 1147026
USDA GRIN 410724
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:342070-1
The Plant List kew-49342
Open Tree Of Life 3913775
IPNI 342070-1
GBIF 3057545
Freebase /m/013ccffc
EOL 1147490
Wikipedia Croton_aromaticus
CMAUP NPO8268

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

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Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Cyperenoic acid and (-)-Hardwlckiic acid from the chloroform extract of the roots of Croton aromaticus : isolation and insecticidal properties B. M. Ratnayake Bandara, W. R. Wimalasiri, Wasantra A. Wickremasinghe, K. A. N. Premaratne Bandara Sri Lanka Journals Online (JOL) 21-Dec-2017
doi:10.4038/JNSFSR.V18I2.8202
Isolation and Insecticidal Activity of (-)-Hardwickiic Acid from Croton aromaticus. Bandara BM, Wimalasiri WR, Bandara KA Planta Med 01-Dec-1987
doi:10.1055/S-2006-962818
PMID:17269104

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acid esters
Methyl 3-phenylpropionate 7643 Click to see COC(=O)CCC1=CC=CC=C1 164.20 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids
(3R)-5-[(1R,2R,4aS,8aS)-2-hydroxy-2,5,5,8a-tetramethyl-3,4,4a,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]-3-methylpentanoic acid 11868539 Click to see 324.50 unknown via CMAUP database
(3S)-5-[(1S,4aS,8aR)-2,5,5,8a-tetramethyl-4-oxo-4a,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]-3-methylpentanoic acid 93233226 Click to see 320.50 unknown via CMAUP database
Labdanediol 11130717 Click to see 310.50 unknown via CMAUP database
Labdanic Acid 11186394 Click to see 324.50 unknown via CMAUP database
Labdanic Acid Methyl Ester 7057547 Click to see 338.50 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids / Colensane and clerodane diterpenoids
(-)-Hardwickiic acid 15559629 Click to see 316.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.4038/JNSFSR.V18I2.8202
https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962818
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Aromadendrane sesquiterpenoids / 5,10-cycloaromadendrane sesquiterpenoids
Ledum camphor 92812 Click to see 222.37 unknown via CMAUP database
Viridiflorol 11996452 Click to see CC1CCC2C1C3C(C3(C)C)CCC2(C)O 222.37 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Naphthofurans
(3aS,5aR,9aS,9bR)-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethyl-2,4,5,5a,7,8,9,9b-octahydro-1H-benzo[e][1]benzofuran 12838593 Click to see 236.39 unknown via CMAUP database
8,12-Epoxy-13,14,15,16-tetranorlabdane 11861328 Click to see 236.39 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols
Isorhamnetin 5281654 Click to see 316.26 unknown via CMAUP database
Kaempferol 5280863 Click to see 286.24 unknown via CMAUP database
Myricetin 5281672 Click to see C1=C(C=C(C(=C1O)O)O)C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O 318.23 unknown via CMAUP database
Quercetin 5280343 Click to see 302.23 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides
2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2S,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one 5315208 Click to see C1C(C(C(C(O1)OCC2C(C(C(C(O2)OC3=C(OC4=CC(=CC(=C4C3=O)O)O)C5=CC(=C(C=C5)O)O)O)O)O)O)O)O 596.50 unknown via CMAUP database
3-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxychromen-4-one 42613954 Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)O)O 626.50 unknown via CMAUP database
5,7-Dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-((6-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one 102148697 Click to see 610.50 unknown via CMAUP database
Astragalin 5282102 Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O 448.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Isoquercetin 5280804 Click to see 464.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Kaempferol-3-O-Rutinoside 5318767 Click to see 594.50 unknown via CMAUP database
myricetin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside 5318606 Click to see C1=C(C=C(C(=C1O)O)O)C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O 480.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Myricetin-3-O-rutinoside 21577860 Click to see 626.50 unknown via CMAUP database
Rutin 5280805 Click to see 610.50 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 3-O-methylated flavonoids
Isokaempferide 5280862 Click to see 300.26 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 4-O-methylated flavonoids
Acacetin 5280442 Click to see 284.26 unknown via CMAUP database
Ermanin 5352001 Click to see COC1=CC=C(C=C1)C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC 314.29 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 7-O-methylated flavonoids
Genkwanin 5281617 Click to see 284.26 unknown via CMAUP database
Jaranol 5318869 Click to see COC1=CC(=C2C(=C1)OC(=C(C2=O)OC)C3=CC=C(C=C3)O)O 314.29 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Phenylpropanoic acids
Benzenepropanoic acid 107 Click to see 150.17 unknown via CMAUP database

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