Croton megalobotrys fruit

The stalked fruit of Croton megalobotrys is a globose, obscurely three-sectioned capsule, initially green and hairy. The capsule becomes woody, yellow-brown and hairless when ripe, but does not split. The fruits are seen on the tree in summer; fruit diameter is 3 cm to 4 cm.

Clear yellowish oil can be obtained from the seeds. The seeds have been used in the treatment and prevention of malaria in the past, apparently successfully. The bark and seeds are also used as fish poison.

The flowers that preceded these fruits were pale creamy yellow-green, growing in stem-tip racemes. Male and female flowers grow on the same tree, sometimes in separate racemes, about 9 cm long. When both flowers grow in the same raceme, the female ones are at the base.

Flowering happens in spring (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997; Codd, 1951; iNaturalist).