Crossosomataceae

Crossosomataceae is a small plant family, consisting of four genera of xeromorphic shrubs found only in the dry parts of the American southwest and Mexico. This family has included up to ten species in the past, although as of 2026 six species are still recognized. Crossosoma are shrub-like plants which can vary from being 50 cm to 5 meters tall, with small alternating leaves that surround the stem, or leaves clustered in small spurts (fascicles). Apacheria, however, has opposite leaves. Crossosoma has usually white flowers that are generally bisexual and have 5 petals attached to a nectary disk, but in Velascoa the flowers are campanulate and have an extremely reduced nectary disk.