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.

Distribution

Fla., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America.

Discussion

Species ca. 35 (2 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Crossopetalum ilicifolium, Crossopetalum rhacoma

Key

1	Shrubs, to 0.5 m; stems spreading or prostrate; leaf margins spiny-toothed; pedicels 3–7 mm.	Crossopetalum ilicifolium
1	Shrubs or trees, 3–4 m; stems erect; leaf margins crenate or entire; pedicels 7–12 mm.	Crossopetalum rhacoma