Croton
Croton, any of more than 700 species of mostly tropical plants. The leaves are streaked or spotted with white, red, pink, yellow, bronze, or other colors. One species, which grows in India as both a shrub and a small tree, yields croton oil, a powerful purgative. Cascarilla bark, used in making incense and tonics, is obtained from a species found in the Bahamas. Another species, a shrub of which there are several varieties, is a popular garden and house plant.
Crotons belong to the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. Croton oil comes from Croton tiglium, cascarilla bark from C. eluteria. The garden and house croton is Codiaeum variegatum .