6. Crossopetalum P. Browne, Civ. Nat. Hist. Jamaica. 145, plate 16, fig. 1. 1756.
[Greek krossos, fringe, and petalon, petal, alluding to fimbriate petals of the type species] [Greek krossos, fringe, and petalon, petal, alluding to fimbriate petals of the type species]
Jinshuang Ma
Shrubs or trees. Branchlets terete. Leaves persistent, opposite or whorled; stipules present; petiole present; blade margins spiny-toothed, crenate, or entire; venation pinnate. Inflorescences axillary, cymes. Flowers bisexual, radially symmetric; perianth and androecium hypogynous; hypanthium absent; sepals 4, distinct; petals 4, white, pale green, reddish, or purplish; nectary intrastaminal, annular, fleshy; stamens 4, free from and inserted under nectary; staminodes 0; pistil 4-carpellate; ovary superior, <immersed in and adnate to nectary>, 4-locular, placentation axile; style 1; stigmas 4; ovule 1 per locule. Fruits drupes, <red>, 1[–2]-locular by abortion, obovoid or subglobose, apex not beaked. Seeds 1[–2] per fruit, obovoid, not winged; aril absent.
Species ca. 35 (2 in the flora): Florida, Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America.
