[mod.L., a. Gr. κροτών a tick, also the Castor-oil plant Ricinus communis, taken in Botany as the name of an allied genus.]
1. Bot. A large genus of euphorbiaceous plants, mostly natives of tropical regions, many of the species of which have important medical properties.
1751. J. Hill, Nat. Hist. Plants, 612. The herbaceous Croton, with rhombic leaves, and pendulous capsules.
1846. Lindley, Veg. Kingd., 281. Similar colours are found … in some Crotons.
1847. Youatt, Horse, xiv. 305. The only purgative on which dependence can be placed is the croton.
2. By florists applied to Codiæum pictum, a plant closely allied to the Crotons, cultivated in hot-houses for its beautiful foliage.
1881. Daily News, 29 June, 2/7. Crotons, gloxineas, maidenhair, Dræcenas, and pitcher plants.
1882. Garden, 11 March, 167/3. Suitable time … for cutting back and striking Crotons.
3. Croton oil, a fatty oil existing in the seeds of the East Indian species, Croton Tiglium; it is a drastic purgative; croton chloral or c. c. hydrate, a name of butyl chloral hydrate, given in error.
1831. J. Davies, Manual Mat. Med., 363. Croton Oil.
1875. H. C. Wood, Therap. (1879), 475. Croton oil is probably the most available of the cathartics.
1876. Harley, Mat. Med., 346. Croton-chloral Hydrate was first obtained by Kramer and Pinner.
1881. B. W. Richardson, in Med. Temp. Jrnl., Jan., 79. Croton chloral combined with quinine.
