Cunonia
| Cunonia | |
|---|---|
| Cunonia capensis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Oxalidales |
| Family: | Cunoniaceae |
| Genus: | Cunonia L. |
| Species | |
|
Cunonia × alticola | |
Cunonia is a genus of shrubs and trees in the family Cunoniaceae. The genus has a disjunct distribution, with 24 species endemic to New Caledonia in the Pacific, and one species (Cunonia capensis) in Southern Africa. Leaves are opposite, simple or pinnate with a margin entire to serrate. Interpetiolar stipules are often conspicuous and generally enclose buds to form a spoon-like shape (hence the common name "butterspoon tree" for Cunonia capensis). Flowers are bisexual, white, red (pink to purple), or green, arranged in racemes. The fruit is a capsule opening first around the base then vertically, seeds are winged.