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CROSSOSOMATACEAE

CROSSOSOMA FAMILY

James R. Shevock

Shrubs
Stem generally glabrous; twigs or branchlets generally thorny
Leaves generally deciduous, simple, small, generally alternate, entire; stipules minute or 0
Inflorescence: flowers solitary
Flower generally bisexual, radial; hypanthium short, mostly forming thick nectary-disk; sepals generally 5(3–6), free; petals ephemeral, generally 5(3–6), free, generally white; stamens 4–50, attached to nectary-disk; pistils 1–9, simple, styles short, stigma head-like, ovules generally 2–many
Fruit: follicles 1–9
Seeds brown to black, with an aril
Genera in family: 3 genera, 8 species: w US, Mex (Apacheria of AZ, NM has 1 sp.)
Reference: [Thorne & Scogin 1978 Aliso 9:171–178]

CROSSOSOMA

Shrubs
Leaves deciduous (or dry during dormant periods), generally ± narrowly elliptic; petiole 0–short
Inflorescence: peduncle sometimes bracted
Flower: petals 9–15 mm, rounded or oblong, generally white; stamens 15–50 in several series
Fruit: follicles 8–20 mm, cylindric
Seeds generally > 2 per follicle, black, shiny, round to flat; aril conspicuous, fringed, yellowish
Species in genus: 2 species: s CA, e to AZ, s to Mex
Etymology: (Greek: fringe body, from aril)

Native

C. californicum Nutt.

CATALINA CROSSOSOMA

Shrub small tree, 1–5 m
Stem: branchlets ± thorny
Leaves generally clearly separated, 25–90 mm, sometimes nearly round, pale green
Flower: sepals ± 10 mm, round-ovate; petals 12–15 mm, rounded, white, scarcely clawed
Fruit: follicles 2–9, 15–20 mm; tip ± recurved
Seeds generally > 20 per follicle, ± 2.5 mm diam
Ecology: UNCOMMON. Dry, rocky slopes, canyons
Elevation: < 500 m.
Bioregional distribution: c South Coast (Palos Verdes Peninsula), s Channel Islands (San Clemente, Santa Catalina islands)
Distribution outside California: Guadalupe Island, Mexico
Horticultural information: DRN: 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.

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