A genus of tropical plants in the milkweed family, known for their showy flowers and hidden or inconspicuous reproductive structures.
From 'crypto-' (hidden) and Greek 'stegion' (covering/roof), referring to the plant's concealed or protected flower structures; the genus was named in the 1800s by botanists.
Cryptostegia plants have beautiful flowers but hide their reproductive parts so well that for years botanists had trouble understanding how they actually reproduced—nature's botanical disguise!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.