Morphologhy of Croton Plant (Codiaeum

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.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We observed Codiaeum variegatum at State university of Malang exactly park area O1

building Faculty Mathematic and Natural Science. The observation focused on morphology of
Codiaeum variegatum consit, leaves, stem, root and flower. The observation was conducted
during one day, that are on 28 October 2015. We used mistar as measure tool. Data of high of
croton plant, length and wide of croton leaves were gotten from measuring process used
mistar. Other data were gottten from direct observation in the park area combination with
information from internet. The data were taken from the internet is a valid source.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Classification

Scientific name : Codiaeum variegatum

Synonym : Croton variegatum
Common Name : Puring, Tarimas (Batak), Puring (Sunda), Pudieng (Minangkabau).

Kingdom : Plantae
Division : Magnoliophyta
Class : Magnoliopsida
Order : euphorbiales
Family : Euphorbiaceae
Genus : Codiaeum
Species : Codiaeum variegatum

Description

Codiaeum variegatum is a chronic form of shrubs, young leaves length 17 cm and 24

cm while the old leaves. Codiaeum variegatum is noted for its bold, often strikingly foliage.
Glossy, leathery, smoothed-edged leaves are in bright colors ranging from yellow, pink,
orange, red, bronze, purple and green plus combinations thereof in patterns involving
blotching and striping. Codiaeum 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. The smooth and
leathery leaves generally have short stalks, but in almost all other respects the leaves can
differ enormously. They may be long and narrow, lance or sword-shaped, broad and oval; they
may have strait or undulate edges or they be twisted into a kind of spiral; their margins may
be slightly indented in any one of a number of patterns or they may be cut almost to the
midrib.

Figure 1. Codiaeum variegatum

has leaves colours variation.

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.

Figure 2. Stem of Codiaeum

variegatum

Codiaeum variegatum has long clusters of small inconspicuous white or yellow

flowers. Codiaeum variegatum has a stem length of approximately 62 cm. Its stem is round,
woody, hard, branched, greenish brown. Roots of Codiaeum variegatum are taproot and the
colour are young yellow. They are not even noticeable in house plants. The interest for
Codiaeum variegatum flowers are insignificant. The colour of Codiaeum variegatum flowers
are white and conclude in flowers complex group.
 Figure 3. Root of Codiaeum
variegatum

Fugure 4. Flower of Codiaeum

variegatum

Distribution and Habitat

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

Codiaeum variegatum is a chronic form of shrubs, young leaves length 17 cm and 24

cm while the old leaves. Codiaeum have variegated leaves with colours appearing as spots,
blotches, veining etc. and the colours themselves are similarly variable. Root of Codiaeum
variegatum is taproot and the colour is young yellow. Roots of Codiaeum variegatum are
taproot and the colour are young yellow.The colour of Codiaeum variegatum flowers are
white and conlude in flowers complex group.

REFERENCES

Bailey, L.H. 1949, Manual of Cultivated Plants. New York: The

Maemilan Company,
Heyne, K. 1950, De Nutigge Planten van Indonesie (Tanaman
Berguna Indonesia). Djakarta: s'Gravenhage.
Chandra, H, 1997, Codiaeum Malesia, [Thesis], Bogor: Program
Pasea Sarjana IPB,
Keng, H, 1978, Order and Families of Malayan Seed Plants.
Singapore: Singapore University Press.
Muzayyinah. 1996. Etnobotani Puring (Codiaeum variegatum
(Linn.) Blume) di Yogyakarta. Surakarta: FKIP UNS.