Fauna
Plant

Turkey Mullein

Croton setigerus

Also known as Dove Weed, Fish Locoweed, Fish Poison Weed

Turkey mullein forms low, dense, felty mats of grayish-green foliage across dry summer fields, thriving in scorching heat when most other annuals have withered. Its thick covering of star-shaped and bristly hairs acts as sun protection and reduces water loss, while emitting a heavy, sweet-musky scent when crushed. Despite possessing chemical defenses that ward off browsing mammals and once served Indigenous peoples as a stupefying fish poison, its nutritious seeds are an essential late-season food for upland game birds.

Drought-TolerantNativeWildflower
Turkey Mullein reference
Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain · cc0
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyPhotosynthetic autotroph
Predators
  • Mourning Dove
  • California Quail
  • Wild Turkey
ThreatsAgricultural herbicide application, soil tilling, and invasive weed competition
HabitatsDry grasslands, chaparral, roadsides, fallow fields, and open gravelly plains
Life spanAnnual (4–8 months)
Classification
  1. OrderMalpighiales
  2. FamilyEuphorbiaceae
  3. GenusCroton
  4. SpeciesCroton setigerus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Toxic to livestock and pets if eaten, with stiff hairs that irritate bare skin and eyes.
Why it is dangerous
Contains toxic diterpene esters and volatile resins that poison livestock and fish, while stiff stellate hairs cause painful mechanical dermatitis.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognized by low, spreading gray-green mats covered in bristly fuzz with tiny green apetalous flowers and a strong musky scent.
What to do
Do not touch barehanded or rub eyes after handling; pull using sturdy gardening gloves if managing pasture.
Responsible observation
  • Protective Gear: Wear gloves when removing or sampling to avoid bristly hairs that can cause contact dermatitis.
  • Wildlife Watching: Scan patches in late summer to spot feeding flocks of doves, quail, and finches.
  • Pasture Caution: Prevent horses and livestock from grazing heavily in pastures where dense colonies establish.
Related species
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