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Variegatum)
Miftahul Roqhmah
Biology Department, Faculty Of Mathematics and Natural Science, State University of Malang , Malang, Indonesia
ABSTRACT
Codiaeum variegatum ("garden croton" or "variegated croton"; syn. Croton
variegatum L.) is a species of plant in the genus Codiaeum, which is a member of the family
Euphorbiaceae. It is native to Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, and the western Pacific Ocean
islands, growing in open forests and scrub. Croton is an extensive flowering plant genus in the
spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. The plants of this genus were described and introduced to
Europeans by Georg Eberhard Rumphius. The common names for this genus are rushfoil and
croton, but the latter also refers to Codiaeum variegatum. The generic name comes from the
Greek (kroton), which means "tick" and refers to the shape of the seeds of certain
species. The cultivated Codiaeum variegatum are usually smaller and come in an amazing
diversity of leaf shapes and colors. Indoor plants usually grow to a height of 60cm (24 in) and
grow slowly comparative with plants grown in a greenhouse. Greenhouse specimens can
reach a height of 1.2-3m (4-10ft). This study focused on morphologhy of Codiaeum
variegatum. The morphologhy of Codiaeum variegatum was observed for only one day. The
sampel of this plant is Codiaeum variegatum that grown in the park area Faculty Of
Mathematics and Natural Science. The result showed that Codiaeum variegatum have
variegated leaves with colours appearing as spots, blotches, veining etc. and the colours
themselves are similarly variable. In some types old and young leaves look alike; in others the
colours tend to change as they age.
Key words : morphologhy, Codiaeum variegatum, Croton.
INTRODUCTION
Codiaeum variegatum are evergreen, tropical shrubs that have been commonly grown
in Florida land-scapes for decades. They belong to the Euphorbiaceae Family. In southeastern
Asia they have been cultivated for centuries and many hundreds of cultivars have been bred
with a range of different leaf shapes, sizes and colors. Crotons are originally native to
Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and northern Queensland, Australia. It is a
tropical shrub and grows best in the southern and central parts of Florida. Frost or
temperatures below freezing temperatures can damage crotons. If they get damaged by cold,
delay any pruning until the danger of frost is past. In central Florida this is usually late
February or early March. If the plant is damaged, lightly scratch a stem. If it is green then the
stem is alive and will resprout. If not, usually the lower stems survive and resprout from the
roots. Plant it in a warm location in the landscape. In colder locations be prepared to protect
the shrub in winter or grow in containers and bring them indoors during freezing weather.
Crotons are easy to grow. Most prefer full sun or bright shade. Plants in higher light have the
brighter coloring. Some varieties prefer indirect sun and will look washed out with full sun.
Crotons can tolerate shade but the shadier the location the less vivid the foliage color will be.
Crotons grow best in fertile soil that is moist but well drained. In full sun they need
regular irrigation during dry periods but in shadier locations can handle some drought. They
also have few pest problems. Most croton cultivars grow 5-7 feet tall. Some of the smaller
leafed cultivars stay shorter. There are also some larger crotons that can grow taller, up to 10
to 15 feet. Crotons can tolerate pruning to be kept smaller but not shearing. Leggy plants can
be pruned back to encourage bushier growth in spring and summer.As previously mentioned
hundreds of cultivars have been developed with a wide range of leaf sizes, shapes and colors.
Leaves can be marked with shades of green, yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, maroon, and
white.
Classification
Kingdom : Plantae
Division : Magnoliophyta
Class : Magnoliopsida
Order : euphorbiales
Family : Euphorbiaceae
Genus : Codiaeum
Species : Codiaeum variegatum
Description
There are several hundred cultivars, selected and bred for their beautiful foliage. All
these forms of the Codiaeum variegatum have in common following characteristics: thick
evergreen alternate leaves, tiny inconspicuous star-shaped yellow flowers that hang down in
long racemes and a milky sap that bleeds from cut stems. Depending on the cultivar, the
leaves may be ovate to linear, entire to deeply lobed, and variegated with green, white, purple,
orange, yellow, red or pink. The colors may follow the veins, the margins or they may be in
blotches on the leaf.
Codiaeum variegatum grow naturally in southern Asia, Indonesia and other Eastern
Pacific islands. Deployment in Indonesia include the Moluccas, Flores, Bali, Java, Borneo,
Sumatra and Halmahera. Codiaeum variegatum can be grown in the lowlands and the
highlands to an altitude of 1500 m above sea level. Codiaeum variegatum known by several
names areas: tarimas (Batak), dahengara (Manado), leaf guard (East), kodihu (Ambon),
pudieng (Minang), Pudeng (Lampung), croton (Java), keroton, kerotong (Madura ), demung
(Bali), Balya, sumanga (Makassar), and milk rite (Seram) (Heyne, 1950).
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES