Subgenus Cryptanthus is monophyletic and subgenus Hoplocryptanthus is paraphyletic. Morphological groups of the genus Cryptanthus were not confirmed as natural. We found a single origin of andromonoecy associated with the subgenus Cryptanthus. Habitat preferences appeared more conserved than morphological characters. Cerrado and campos rupestres where inferred as ancestral biomes for the genus.