Croton scouleri
One of the most representative and ecologically versatile shrubs of the archipelago. An endemic species, it has demonstrated remarkable phenotypic plasticity, adapting to virtually every microclimate in the archipelago.
In dry lowland zones, its leaves are narrow and small — an adaptation to minimize water loss through evapotranspiration. In higher, more humid zones, the leaves are considerably broader and larger, maximizing light capture.
The bark is a distinctive silvery gray. When a branch or leaf is broken, the plant secretes a clear to slightly yellowish latex containing chemical compounds that function as a defense mechanism against herbivores.
