Croton leaf. Smooth and translucent, with widely varying colors, the Croton makes an excellent light filter. Since it grows well in San Diego’s mild climate, you see it everywhere. This one looks like an alien lizard tongue to me.

These we’re popular in my childhood hometown of North Miami Beach. We used the leaves to make “Indian” headdresses instead of feathers. My little kid brain heard the name as “croutons” and thought they were related to the salad topping. 😏