Croton muscicapa Müller Argoviensis (1873: 199)

Burilli, Nicolas Giovanny, Pereira, Amanda Da Paixão Noronha & Caruzo, Maria Beatriz Rossi, 2025, Synopsis of Croton section Barhamia subsection Barhamia (Euphorbiaceae), Phytotaxa 705 (2), pp. 162-172 : 167

11. Croton muscicapa Müller Argoviensis (1873: 199) .— Oxydectes muscicapa (Müller Argoviensis) Kuntze (1891: 613) . Type:— BRAZIL. Bahia: “in Serra do Gado bravo prope Villa Nova da Rainha”, April, C.F.P. von Martius Obs. 2260 (lectotype designated here M 0086068! [photo F 6610!]; isolectotype, M 0089109!).

Croton muscicapa is a shrubby species endemic to the Atlantic Forest, Caatinga and Cerrado domains in Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil. It grows in sandstone outcrops with lithic and hydromorphic soils, between 293 to 1260 m elevation.

Notes:— Müller Argoviensis cited a single collection in the protologue from the state of Bahia: “Habitat in prov. Bahia in Serra do Gado bravo prope Villa Nova da Rainha, Martius Obs. 2260 ”. However, two duplicates corresponding to this description and collection number are currently deposited in the M herbarium (M 0089109, M 0086068). We decided to select the specimen (M 0086068) bearing the original blue label found on other specimens collected by Martius. Additionally, it is important to mention that this species is often misspelled with the orthographic variant “ Croton muscicarpa ” in numerous herbarium collections. However, here we emphasize the correct spelling, as established by the author, as C. muscicapa .

Representative specimens:— BRASIL. Bahia: Jacobina, Estrada que liga Jacobina a Morro do Chapéu, ca. de 1 Km de Jacobina, Ramal que leva a Cachoeira do Alves, ca. 10 km da estrada principal, 26 October 1995, A.M. Amorim 1748 (CEPEC, RB 00684475!, SP 0290884!).