Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 17, 2026

Crinodendron

Crinodendron is a genus of evergreen shrubs or trees belonging to the family Elaeocarpaceae native to South America. Some are cultivated as ornamentals in Europe and elsewhere. They have narrow, leathery evergreen leaves and pendent bell-shaped flowers in red, pink or white.

Last revised
Jul 17, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
511 w
Citations
24
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Crinodendron
C. hookerianum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Spermatophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Oxalidales
Family: Elaeocarpaceae
Genus: Crinodendron
Molina
Type species
Crinodendron patagua Molina1
Synonyms2
  • Tricuspidaria Ruiz & Pav.
  • Tricuspis Pers.

Crinodendron is a genus of evergreen shrubs or trees3 belonging to the family Elaeocarpaceae native to South America.4 Some are cultivated as ornamentals in Europe and elsewhere. They have narrow, leathery evergreen leaves and pendent bell-shaped flowers in red, pink or white.

Description

Crinodendron patagua flowering source ↗
Crinodendron hookerianum flowering source ↗
Crinodendron hookerianum flower detail source ↗

Crinodendron are 2–7 m (6.6–23 ft) tall,5 evergreen63 trees or shrubs.56

Taxonomy

It was published by Giovanni Ignazio Molina in 178271 with Crinodendron patagua Molina as the type species.1

Species

It has four species:84

  1. Crinodendron brasiliense Reitz & L.B.Sm.
  2. Crinodendron hookerianum Gay
  3. Crinodendron patagua Molina
  4. Crinodendron tucumanum Lillo

Etymology

The generic name Crinodendron is composed of two Greek words: krinon, meaning lily,69 in reference to the fragrant, white, lily-like flowers of Crinodendron patagua,6 and dendron, meaning tree.9

Evolution

This genus is most closely related to the Australian Peripentadenia. They appear to descend from a common ancestor that dispersed across the Antarctic land bridge during the Late Cretaceous.10

Distribution

It is native to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, and has been introduced to the Juan Fernández Islands.4

Ecology

Pollination

Crinodendron patagua is insect pollinated, Crinodendron hookerianum is hummingbird pollinated,1112 and Crinodendron tucumanum is insect pollinated.12

Horticulture

In cultivation in temperate areas they require a sheltered location.13

References

References

  1. Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.-i). Crinodendron Molina. Tropicos. Retrieved January 27, 2025, from https://www.tropicos.org/name/40016518
  2. Crinodendron Molina. (n.d.-b). Catalogue of Life. Retrieved January 27, 2025, from https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/3VVL
  3. Schmidt, P. A., Schulz, B. (2023). Fitschen - Gehölzflora: Ein Buch zum Bestimmen der in Mitteleuropa wild wachsenden und angepflanzten Bäume und Sträucher. p. 398. Deutschland: Quelle & Meyer Verlag.
  4. Crinodendron Molina. (n.d.). Plants of the World Online. Retrieved January 27, 2025, from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:39407-1
  5. Sampaio, D.; Teixeira, L.A. Elaeocarpaceae in Flora e Funga do Brasil. Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. Available at: <https://floradobrasil.jbrj.gov.br/FB7444>. Accessed on: 28 Jan. 2025
  6. Crinodendron. (n.d.). Oregon State University. Retrieved January 28, 2025, from https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/crinodendron
  7. Molina, Giovanni Ignazio (1782). Saggio sulla storia naturale del Chili. p. 179. Boloña: Stamperia di S. Tomaso d'Aquino.
  8. Crinodendron Molina. (n.d.-c). WFO Plant List. Retrieved January 28, 2025, from https://wfoplantlist.org/taxon/wfo-4000009698-2024-12?page=1
  9. Crinodendron hookerianum | Landscape Plants | Oregon State University. (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/crinodendron-hookerianum
  10. van den Ende, Conrad; White, Lloyd T.; van Welzen, Peter C. (2017-04-01). "The existence and break-up of the Antarctic land bridge as indicated by both amphi-Pacific distributions and tectonics". Gondwana Research. 44: 219–227. Bibcode:2017GondR..44..219V. doi:10.1016/j.gr.2016.12.006. ISSN 1342-937X.
  11. Jones, B. & University of Oxford, Department of Plant Sciences. (n.d.). Plant 234 Crinodendron species (Elaeocarpaceae) Lantern trees. Oxford Plants 400. Retrieved January 27, 2025, from https://dps007.plants.ox.ac.uk/bol/plants400/Profiles/cd/Crinodendron
  12. Aldridge, J. (2022), Crinodendron from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/crinodendron/). Accessed 2025-01-27.
  13. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
External links