Crossosomataceae

Abstract

Small to large microphyllous shrubs, rarely arborescent, intricately branched; stems smooth, spinescent, or with hyaline to black trichomes. Leaves alternate or opposite, scattered or fascicled; stipules minute or 0. Flowers solitary, axillary or terminal on short shoots, bisexual or rarely unisexual, actinomorphic, perigynous, with or without a fleshy or thin, glandular, crenately lobed disk; hypanthium present, short and turbinate or enlarged and tubular; sepals (3)4-5(6), equal or unequal in form, ovate, oblong or triangular, persistent; petals (3)4-5(6), distinct, deciduous or persistent, equal or unequal in form, narrowly lanceolate to round ovate, usually longer than sepals, often short-clawed; stamens 4-50, diplostemonous, haplostemonous, or polystaminate, sometimes unequal in length, rarely almost sessile; anthers basifixed; gynoecium apocarpous, 1-5(-9)-carpellate; pistils stipitate or sessile, 1-celled, with 1-2 to many ovules; stylodia short or 0; stigmas capitate. Fruits follicular, ventrally dehiscent, surfacesmoothorrugose. Seeds disk-shaped, black or brown, with a whitish or yellowish, irregular, fimbriate or fimbriolate aril, 1(2)-many.