Greek keras — horn, petalon — petal; referring to the irregularly margined, staghorn-shaped petals.

Shrubs or trees. Leaves simple or with 3 leaflets; stipules triangular. Flower clusters terminal. Sepals 4-5, enlarging around the fruit. Petals 0, 4 or 5, small. Stamens 10. Ovary half-inferior, with 2 chambers, each containing 4 ovules. Fruit a 1-seeded nut covered with the brightly coloured and enlarged persistent calyx.

6 species from New Guinea and Australia (5 species endemic).

Seed and cuttings.

Timber, known as lightwood, is used commercially. C. apetalum wood is pale brown to pink and used for carpentry, flooring, etc.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Cunoniaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.