Leaves alternate, rarely subopposite, reticulum usually distinct and areolate, rarely obscure.
Inflorescence cymose, racemose or paniculate, axillary, usually at the end of branches and often appearing terminal. Flowers bisexual, 3-merous. Perianth segments 6. Stamens 9, anthers 2-locular; the outer 2 whorls dehiscing introrsely, glandless, the inner whorl dehiscing extrorsely and flanked by glands; fourth whorl of staminodes. Ovary surrounded by a slender tubular receptacle; fruit enclosed at maturity by the expanded receptacle except for a minute terminal orifice.
Drupe surrounded by a succulent receptacle layer topped by persistent floral parts, false 'fruit' usually ovoid to ± globose.
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Leaves either 3-veined from near base or less than 30 mm long | 2 |
| Leaves not 3-veined from near base and lamina more than 30 mm long | 5 |
| 2 | Leaves hairy on lower surface, especially along the veins | Cryptocarya triplinervis |
| Leaves more or less glabrous on lower surface
Back to 1 | 3 |
| 3 | Leaves mostly less than 30 mm long | Cryptocarya williwilliana |
| Leaves more than 30 mm long
Back to 2 | 4 |
| 4 | Leaves with 1 or 2 (occasionally more) prominent domatia, as swellings on the upper surface and deep cavities on the lower surface | Cryptocarya foveolata |
| Either domatia absent, or domatia not swollen as above
Back to 3 | Cryptocarya laevigata |
| 5 | Mature leaves green on both surfaces, younger leaves sometimes glaucous | 6 |
| Mature leaves glaucous on lower surface
Back to 1 | 10 |
| 6 | Leaves with reticulum usually invisible on both surfaces or if reticulum faint then not areolate; the surfaces contrasting in colour (particularly in fresh material), lower surface paler but neither glaucous nor yellowish | Cryptocarya meisneriana |
| Leaves with reticulum distinct on both surfaces and finely areolate; either the surfaces similar in colour or the lower surface yellowish or glaucous
Back to 5 | 7 |
| 7 | Leaves mostly more than 4 cm wide, length to breadth ratio less than 2.5:1; secondary veins 4 or 5 pairs | Cryptocarya foetida |
| Leaves mostly less than 4 cm wide, length to breadth ratio of more than 2.5:1; secondary veins 4–12 pairs
Back to 6 | 8 |
| 8 | Leaves broadest at or above the middle, margins undulate | 9 |
| Leaves broadest below the middle, margins not undulate
Back to 7 | Cryptocarya floydii |
| 9 | Midrib more or less flattened, scarcely raised below except towards petiole, flush with the upper surface, yellowish; secondary veins more or less straight, tending to dichotomize about a third of the way in from the margin | Cryptocarya bidwillii |
| Midrib raised and rounded below, slightly raised above, whitish in fresh leaves; secondary veins curving unbranched towards the margin
Back to 8 | Cryptocarya microneura |
| 10 | Mature leaves distinctly hairy on lower surface, especially along the veins | 11 |
| Mature leaves more or less glabrous on lower surface
Back to 5 | 13 |
| 11 | Leaves broadest above the middle, the apex usually rounded, in juvenile leaves the apex pointed and the leaves usually more than 13 cm long | Cryptocarya obovata |
| Leaves broadest at or below the middle, the apex acute or obtuse, not rounded, the lamina usually less than 13 cm long
Back to 10 | 12 |
| 12 | Leaves with more than 7 pairs of secondary veins, the veins making angles of 70–800 with the midvein; leaves usually less than 8 cm long | Cryptocarya dorrigoensis |
| Leaves with 4–6 pairs of secondary veins, the lowest pairs making angles of c. 450 with the midvein; leaves mostly more than 8 cm long
Back to 11 | Cryptocarya rigida |
| 13 | Leaves with lamina usually more than 7 cm long, reticulum distinct | 14 |
| Leaves with lamina mostly less than 7 cm long, reticulum obscure or distinct
Back to 10 | 15 |
| 14 | Leaves evenly whitish on lower surface, strongly contrasting with the secondary veins, which are brown or green when fresh (reddish brown when dry); reticulum coarse, not areolate; petiole glabrous; fruit ovoid, not ribbed | Cryptocarya erythroxylon |
| Leaves dull ashy-green on lower surface, usually more or less blotched, only moderately contrasting with the greenish secondary veins; reticulum very finely areolate; petiole minutely hairy; fruit depressed-globose, ribbed
Back to 13 | Cryptocarya glaucescens |
| 15 | Leaves with reticulum obscure | Cryptocarya meisneriana |
| Leaves with reticulum distinct in dried leaves and in fresh leaves in transmitted light, finely areolate
Back to 13 | Cryptocarya nova-anglica |
