Croton laceratoglandulosus (Euphorbiaceae s.s.), a new glandular-stipulate species from Brazil and Bolivia, and its systematic position based on molecular analysis

Croton laceratoglandulosus, a new species from the dry forests of the Brazilian states of Piaui, Ceara, Bahia and Minas Gerais, and the Bolivian department of Santa Cruz, is described and illustrated here. Molecular sequence data demonstrate that it is most closely related to the taxa of Croton section Cascarilla, and not to sections Medea or Barhamia, which also have glandular calyces and laciniate stipules. (C) 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158, 493-498.

Croton campanulatus (Euphorbiaceae s.s.), a new species from the Brazilian Atlantic rain forest

Croton campanulatus, a new species from southeastern Brazil in the states of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, is here described and illustrated. Morphological data indicate that this species belongs to Croton section Cleodora based on its arborescent habit, pistillate flowers with imbricate sepals, reduced petals, and multifid styles that are fused at the base.

A new species of Croton section Cleodora (Euphorbiaceae s.s.) from Minas Gerais, Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Molecular phylogenetics and character evolution of the ""sacaca"" clade: Novel relationships of Croton section Cleodora (Euphorbiaceae)

Phylogenetic relationships of Croton section Cleodora (Klotzsch) Baill. were evaluated using the nuclear ribosomal ITS and the chloroplast trnl-F and trnH-psbA regions. Our results show a strongly supported clade containing most previously recognized section Cleodora species, plus some other species morphologically similar to them. Two morphological synapomorphies that support section Cleodora as a clade include pistillate flowers in which the sepals overlap to some degree, and styles that are connate at the base to varying degrees. The evolution of vegetative and floral characters that have previously been relied on for taxonomic decisions within this group are evaluated in light of the phylogenetic hypotheses. Within section Cleodora there are two well-supported clades, which are proposed here as subsections (subsection Sphaerogyni and subsection Spruceani). The resulting phylogenetic hypothesis identifies the closest relatives of the medicinally important and essential oil-rich Croton cajucara Benth. as candidates for future screening in phytochemical and pharmacological studies. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oil from Croton heterocalyx Baill. (Euphorbiaceae s.s.) Leaves

The chemical composition and the antimicrobial activity of the essential oil from Croton heterocalyx leaves were evaluated. The oil which was analyzed by GC and GUMS was found to contain germacrene D (12.5%), bicyclogermacrene (11.2%), delta-elemene (9.2%) beta-elemene (8.2%), spathulenol (6.9%), linalool (5.4%) and 1,8-cineole (3.7%) its major components. Croton. heterocalyx oil displayed a high inhibitory activity against the fungi Aspergillus niger (16404) and Candida albicans (ATCC 10231.) as well its the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), hut a very weak activity was observed for the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 9027).