noun

1. any of a large, mostly tropical genus (Croton) of shrubs, trees, and herbs of the spurge family: certain species yield croton oil and cascarilla, formerly used in medicine, and others are poisonous range weeds in the SW U.S.
2. any of a genus (Codiaeum) of shrubs of the spurge family, grown for their ornamental, leathery leaves

Etymology: ModL < Gr krotōn, a tick, castor-oil plant or (in pl.) its ticklike seeds