Crossopetalum, commonly known as Christmas-berries or maiden berries, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Celastraceae. It comprises about 30-40 species.
Description
Crossopetalum taxa are shrubs or trees, with opposite or whorled persistent leaves with petiole and stipules. Inflorescences are axillary, regrouping white, pale green, reddish, or purplish radially symmetric flowers, with four sepals, four petals, and a four-carpellate pistil. Intrastaminal nectaries are annular and fleshy. Fruits are red drupes, with one-two seeds per fruit. It blooms and fruits all year long. == Etymology ==
Etymology
The etymology of the genus name Crossopetalum derives from the two Ancient Greek words (), meaning "fringe", and (), meaning "leaf of a flower". It alludes to the fimbriate petals of the type species (C. rhacoma). == Systematics ==