Cyrillaceae

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Cyrillaceae (order Ericales) A small family of deciduous or evergreen shrubs and small trees in which the leaves are simple and alternate. The flowers are borne in racemes and have 5 sepals and 5 petals, which may be free or fused. The superior ovary develops into a capsule or drupe, sometimes winged, with a fleshy endosperm. Cyrilla racemosa (leatherwood) and Cliftonia monophylla (buckwheat tree) are grown as ornamentals, and have attractive white flowers and reddish autumn foliage. There are 3 genera, with about 14 species, occurring in warm parts of America.