# Lindheimer's Doveweed

*Croton lindheimeri*

Despite being highly toxic to cattle, its oil-rich seeds are a primary and favorite food source for mourning doves and bobwhite quail.

- **Taxonomy:** Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Malpighiales › Euphorbiaceae › Croton
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** grassland
- **Habitat:** Dry prairies, pastures, roadsides, and disturbed open fields
- **Diet:** Autotrophic (Photosynthesis)
- **Range:** United States (Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas), Northern Mexico
- **Size:** 30 to 100 cm (1 to 3 feet) tall
- **Lifespan:** 1 year (Annual)
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Intensive agricultural herbicides and invasive pasture grasses.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless to touch, but toxic if ingested. Keep pets and livestock away, as the plant contains irritating sap and oils. If sap contacts skin or eyes, wash thoroughly with cool water; seek veterinary care if grazed by animals.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/7225155f-cab8-4928-a873-78e591864709
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/467992

- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/25508267/medium.jpeg (Alison Northup, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.