Botanical atlas

Rhacoma

Crossopetalum rhacoma

Rhacoma does not carry a documented history as a medicinal or culinary herb the way many of its garden neighbors do. What it does carry is a quiet botanical curiosity, it was one of the very plants Carl Linnaeus named in 1753, originally as Rhacoma crossopetalum, and later botanists flipped the name around to the Crossopetalum rhacoma we use today. In its native range it has long been valued simply for what it is, a tough little evergreen that holds its ground on bare limestone and feeds birds through its small red fruits. Today it is treasured mainly by native plant gardeners and conservationists working to keep Florida's vanishing pine rockland habitat alive.

In tradition.

Rhacoma does not carry a documented history as a medicinal or culinary herb the way many of its garden neighbors do. What it does carry is a quiet botanical curiosity, it was one of the very plants Carl Linnaeus named in 1753, originally as Rhacoma crossopetalum, and later botanists flipped the name around to the Crossopetalum rhacoma we use today. In its native range it has long been valued simply for what it is, a tough little evergreen that holds its ground on bare limestone and feeds birds through its small red fruits. Today it is treasured mainly by native plant gardeners and conservationists working to keep Florida's vanishing pine rockland habitat alive.

Safety.

This plant has no history of eating or medicinal use and hasn't been studied for safety, so don't eat it. It's uncommon in the wild, so choose nursery-grown plants, and keep it away from pets and small children.