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Myrtaceae, the myrtle family, is a family of
Myrtaceae, the myrtle family, is a family of dicotyledon
The dicotyledons, also known as dicots (or, more rarely, dicotyls), are one of the two groups into which all the flowering plants (angiosperms) were formerly divided. The name refers to one of the typical characteristics of the group: namely, t ...
ous plant
Plants are predominantly photosynthetic eukaryotes of the kingdom Plantae. Historically, the plant kingdom encompassed all living things that were not animals, and included algae and fungi; however, all current definitions of Plantae exclud ...
s placed within the order Myrtales
The Myrtales are an order of flowering plants placed as a sister to the eurosids II clade as of the publishing of the ''Eucalyptus grandis'' genome in June 2014.
The APG III system of classification for angiosperms still places it within the eur ...
. Myrtle, pōhutukawa, bay rum tree, clove
Cloves are the aromatic flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae, ''Syzygium aromaticum'' (). They are native to the Maluku Islands (or Moluccas) in Indonesia, and are commonly used as a spice, flavoring or fragrance in consumer products, ...
, guava
Guava () is a common tropical fruit cultivated in many tropical and subtropical regions. The common guava ''Psidium guajava'' (lemon guava, apple guava) is a small tree in the myrtle family ( Myrtaceae), native to Mexico, Central America, the ...
, acca (feijoa), allspice
Allspice, also known as Jamaica pepper, myrtle pepper, pimenta, or pimento, is the dried unripe berry (botany), berry of ''Pimenta dioica'', a Canopy (forest), midcanopy tree native to the Greater Antilles, southern Mexico, and Central America, ...
, and eucalyptus
''Eucalyptus'' () is a genus of over seven hundred species of flowering trees, shrubs or mallees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Along with several other genera in the tribe Eucalypteae, including '' Corymbia'', they are commonly known as euca ...
are some notable members of this group. All species are woody, contain essential oil
An essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile (easily evaporated at normal temperatures) chemical compounds from plants. Essential oils are also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils, aetheroleum, or simply as the o ...
s, and have flower parts in multiples of four or five. The leaves
A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...
are evergreen
In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season. This also pertains to plants that retain their foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, which ...
, alternate to mostly opposite, simple, and usually entire (i.e., without a toothed margin). The flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...
s have a base number of five petals, though in several genera, the petals are minute or absent. The stamen
The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10
Morphology and terminology
A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...
s are usually very conspicuous, brightly coloured, and numerous.
Evolutionary history
Scientists hypothesize that the family Myrtaceae arose between 60 and 56 million years ago (Mya) during thePaleocene
The Paleocene, ( ) or Palaeocene, is a geological epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 66 to 56 mya (unit), million years ago (mya). It is the first epoch of the Paleogene Period (geology), Period in the modern Cenozoic Era (geology), E ...
era. Pollen fossils have been sourced to the ancient supercontinent Gondwana
Gondwana () was a large landmass, often referred to as a supercontinent, that formed during the late Neoproterozoic (about 550 million years ago) and began to break up during the Jurassic period (about 180 million years ago). The final stages ...
. The breakup of Gondwana
Gondwana () was a large landmass, often referred to as a supercontinent, that formed during the late Neoproterozoic (about 550 million years ago) and began to break up during the Jurassic period (about 180 million years ago). The final stages ...
during the Cretaceous
The Cretaceous ( ) is a geological period that lasted from about 145 to 66 million years ago (Mya). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era, as well as the longest. At around 79 million years, it is the longest geological period of th ...
period (145 to 66 Mya) geographically isolated disjunct taxa and allowed for rapid speciation; in particular, genera once considered members of the now-defunct Leptospermoideae alliance are now isolated within Oceania
Oceania (, , ) is a region, geographical region that includes Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Spanning the Eastern Hemisphere, Eastern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres, Oceania is estimated to have a land area of ...
. Generally, experts agree that vicariance
Allopatric speciation () – also referred to as geographic speciation, vicariant speciation, or its earlier name the dumbbell model – is a mode of speciation that occurs when biological populations become geographically isolated from ...
is responsible for the differentiation of Myrtaceae taxa, except in the cases of ''Leptospermum
''Leptospermum'' is a genus of shrubs and small trees in the myrtle family Myrtaceae commonly known as tea trees, although this name is sometimes also used for some species of ''Melaleuca''. Most species are endemic to Australia, with the greate ...
'' species now located on New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
and New Caledonia
)
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, image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg
, map_alt = Location of New Caledonia
, map_caption = Location of New Caledonia
, mapsize = 290px
, subdivision_type = Sovereign st ...
, islands which may have been submerged at the time of late Eocene
The Eocene ( ) Epoch is a geological epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 56 to 33.9 million years ago (mya). It is the second epoch of the Paleogene Period (geology), Period in the modern Cenozoic Era (geology), Era. The name ''Eocene' ...
differentiation.
Diversity
Recent estimates suggest the Myrtaceae include about 5,950 species in about 132 genera. The family has a wide distribution in tropical and warm-temperate regions of the world, and is common in many of the world's biodiversity hotspots. Genera with capsular fruits such as ''Eucalyptus
''Eucalyptus'' () is a genus of over seven hundred species of flowering trees, shrubs or mallees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Along with several other genera in the tribe Eucalypteae, including '' Corymbia'', they are commonly known as euca ...
'', ''Corymbia
''Corymbia'', commonly known as bloodwoods, is a genus of about one hundred species of tree that, along with ''Eucalyptus'', '' Angophora'' and several smaller groups, are referred to as eucalypts. Until 1990, corymbias were included in the gen ...
'', ''Angophora
''Angophora'' is a genus of nine species of trees and shrubs in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Endemic to eastern Australia, they differ from other eucalypts in having juvenile and adult leaves arranged in opposite pairs, sepals reduced to projec ...
'', ''Leptospermum
''Leptospermum'' is a genus of shrubs and small trees in the myrtle family Myrtaceae commonly known as tea trees, although this name is sometimes also used for some species of ''Melaleuca''. Most species are endemic to Australia, with the greate ...
'', and ''Melaleuca
''Melaleuca'' () is a genus of nearly 300 species of plants in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, commonly known as paperbarks, honey-myrtles or tea-trees (although the last name is also applied to species of '' Leptospermum''). They range in size ...
'' are absent from the Americas, apart from ''Metrosideros
''Metrosideros'' is a genus of approximately 60 trees, shrubs, and vines mostly found in the Pacific region in the family Myrtaceae. Most of the tree forms are small, but some are exceptionally large, the New Zealand species in particular. The n ...
'' in Chile
Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...
and Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
. Genera with fleshy fruits have their greatest concentrations in eastern Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
and Malesia
Malesia is a biogeographical region straddling the Equator and the boundaries of the Indomalayan and Australasian realms, and also a phytogeographical floristic region in the Paleotropical Kingdom. It has been given different definitions. The ...
(the Australasian realm) and the Neotropic
The Neotropical realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting Earth's land surface. Physically, it includes the tropical terrestrial ecoregions of the Americas and the entire South American temperate zone.
Definition
In bioge ...
s. ''Eucalyptus'' is a dominant, nearly ubiquitous genus in the more mesic parts of Australia and extends north sporadically to the Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
. '' Eucalyptus regnans'' is the tallest flowering plant in the world. Other important Australian genera are ''Callistemon
''Callistemon'' is a genus of shrubs in the family Myrtaceae, first described as a genus in 1814. The entire genus is endemic to Australia but widely cultivated in many other regions and naturalised in scattered locations. Their status as a se ...
'' (bottlebrushes), '' Syzygium'', and ''Melaleuca
''Melaleuca'' () is a genus of nearly 300 species of plants in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, commonly known as paperbarks, honey-myrtles or tea-trees (although the last name is also applied to species of '' Leptospermum''). They range in size ...
'' (paperbarks). Species of the genus ''Osbornia
''Osbornia'' is a genus of plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1862.mangroves. '' Eugenia'', ''
Historically, the Myrtaceae were divided into two subfamilies. Subfamily Myrtoideae (about 75 genera) was recognized as having fleshy fruits and opposite, entire leaves. Most genera in this subfamily have one of three easily recognized types of embryos. The genera of Myrtoideae can be very difficult to distinguish in the absence of mature fruits. Myrtoideae are found worldwide in subtropical and tropical regions, with centers of diversity in the Neotropics, northeastern Australia, and Malesia. In contrast, subfamily Leptospermoideae (about 80 genera) was recognized as having dry, dehiscent fruits (capsules) and leaves arranged spirally or alternate. The Leptospermoideae are found mostly in Australasia, with a centre of diversity in Australia. Many genera in Western Australia have greatly reduced leaves and flowers typical of more xeric habitats.
Myrcia
''Myrcia'' is a genus of plants in the family Myrtaceae, containing about 765 species as of 2022. They are distributed in Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, with centers of diversity in the Brazilian Cerrado and Atlantic Forest ...
'', and ''Calyptranthes
''Myrcia'' is a genus of plants in the family Myrtaceae, containing about 765 species as of 2022. They are distributed in Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, with centers of diversity in the Brazilian Cerrado and Atlantic Forest ...
'' are among the larger genera in the neotropics.
Historically, the Myrtaceae were divided into two subfamilies. Subfamily Myrtoideae (about 75 genera) was recognized as having fleshy fruits and opposite, entire leaves. Most genera in this subfamily have one of three easily recognized types of embryos. The genera of Myrtoideae can be very difficult to distinguish in the absence of mature fruits. Myrtoideae are found worldwide in subtropical and tropical regions, with centers of diversity in the Neotropics, northeastern Australia, and Malesia. In contrast, subfamily Leptospermoideae (about 80 genera) was recognized as having dry, dehiscent fruits (capsules) and leaves arranged spirally or alternate. The Leptospermoideae are found mostly in Australasia, with a centre of diversity in Australia. Many genera in Western Australia have greatly reduced leaves and flowers typical of more xeric habitats.
Taxonomy
The division of the Myrtaceae into Leptospermoideae and Myrtoideae was challenged by a number of authors, including Johnson and Briggs (1984), who identified 14 tribes or clades within Myrtaceae, and found Myrtoideae to be polyphyletic. Molecular studies by several groups of authors, as of 2008, have confirmed the baccate (fleshy) fruits evolved twice from capsular fruits and, as such, the two-subfamily classification does not accurately portray the phylogenetic history of the family. Thus, many workers are now using a recent analysis by Wilson et al. (2001) as a starting point for further analyses of the family. This study pronounced both Leptospermoideae and Myrtoideae invalid, but retained several smaller suballiances shown to be monophyletic through matK analysis. The genera '' Heteropyxis'' and ''Psiloxylon
''Psiloxylon mauritianum'' (known locally as "bois bigaignon") is a species of flowering plant, the sole species of the genus ''Psiloxylon''. It is endemic to the Mascarene Islands (Mauritius and Réunion) in the Indian Ocean.
It is a white-ba ...
'' have been separated as separate families by many authors in the past as Heteropyxidaceae and Psiloxylaceae. However, Wilson ''et al.'' included them in Myrtaceae. These two genera are presently believed to be the earliest arising and surviving lineages of Myrtaceae.
The most recent classification recognizes 17 tribes and two subfamilies, Myrtoideae and Psiloxyloideae, based on a phylogenetic analysis of plastid
The plastid (Greek: πλαστός; plastós: formed, molded – plural plastids) is a membrane-bound organelle found in the Cell (biology), cells of plants, algae, and some other eukaryotic organisms. They are considered to be intracellular endosy ...
DNA.
Many new species are being described annually from throughout the range of Myrtaceae. Likewise, new genera are being described nearly yearly.
Classification
Following Wilson (2011) Subfamily Psiloxyloideae * tribe Psiloxyleae * tribe Heteropyxideae SubfamilyMyrtoideae
Myrtaceae, the myrtle family, is a family of dicotyledonous plants placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, pōhutukawa, bay rum tree, clove, guava, acca (feijoa), allspice, and eucalyptus are some notable members of this group. All spe ...
* tribe Xanthostemoneae
* tribe Lophostemoneae
* tribe Osbornieae
* tribe Melaleuceae
* tribe Kanieae
Kanieae is a tribe in the plant family MyrtaceaeWilson, P. G. (2011) Myrtaceae. In The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants. Volume X. Sapindales, Cucurbitales, Myrtaceae, edited by K. Kubitzki, X:212–71. Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag, 2011. fr ...
* tribe Backhousieae
''Backhousia'' is a genus of thirteen currently known species of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae. All the currently known species are endemic to Australia in the rainforests and seasonally dry forests of Queensland, New South Wales and ...
* tribe Metrosidereae
* tribe Tristanieae
* tribe Syzygieae
''Syzygium'' () is a genus of flowering plants that belongs to the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. The genus comprises about 1200 species, and has a native range that extends from Africa and Madagascar through southern Asia east through the Pacific. I ...
* tribe Myrteae
Myrteae is the largest tribe in the plant family Myrtaceae. It includes most of the species of the family that have fleshy fruits.
Well-known members include edible fruit such as feijoa (''Feijoa sellowiana''), guava (''Psidium guajava''), jab ...
* tribe Eucalypteae
Eucalypteae is a large tribe of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae; members of this tribe are known as eucalypts. In Australia the genera '' Angophora'', ''Corymbia'', and ''Eucalyptus'' are commonly known as gum trees, for the sticky subst ...
* tribe Syncarpieae
''Syncarpia'' is a small group of trees in the myrtle family (Myrtaceae) described as a genus in 1839. They are native to Queensland and New South Wales in Australia.Govaerts, R., Sobral, N., Ashton, P., Barrie, F., Holst, B.K., Landrum, L.L., ...
* tribe Lindsayomyrteae
* tribe Leptospermeae
* tribe Chamelaucieae
Genera
* '' Abbevillea'' * ''Actinodium
''Actinodium cunninghamii'', commonly known as swamp daisy or Albany daisy, is the only formally described species in the genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae, ''Actinodium'' and is endemic to Western Australia.
Description
''Actin ...
''
* '' Agonis''
* '' Algrizea''
* ''Allosyncarpia
''Allosyncarpia ternata'', commonly known as ''an-binik'', is a species of rainforest trees constituting part of the botanical family Myrtaceae and included in the eucalypts group. The only species in its genus, it was described in 1981 by Stan ...
''
* '' Aluta''
* '' Amomyrtella''
* ''Amomyrtus
''Amomyrtus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1948. It is native to temperate southern South America, where it is distributed in Chile and Argentina.Arroyo, M. T. K. and A. M. Humaña. (1999) ...
''
* ''Angasomyrtus
''Kunzea'' is a genus of plants in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to Australasia. They are shrubs, sometimes small trees and usually have small, crowded, rather aromatic leaves. The flowers are similar to those of plants in the genus ''Lepto ...
''
* ''Angophora
''Angophora'' is a genus of nine species of trees and shrubs in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Endemic to eastern Australia, they differ from other eucalypts in having juvenile and adult leaves arranged in opposite pairs, sepals reduced to projec ...
''
* ''Archirhodomyrtus
''Archirhodomyrtus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, describe as a genus in 1941. There are five known species, four native to New Caledonia and one native to Australia.Arillastrum
''Arillastrum'' is a monotypic genus of trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, containing the single species ''Arillastrum gummiferum''. It is endemic to southern New Caledonia.Wilcox, M. (2004)''Le chêne gomme'' (''Arillastrum gummiferum'') & ...
''
* '' Astartea''
* '' Asteromyrtus''
* ''Astus
''Astus'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Myrtaceae.
Its native range is Southwest Australia
Southwest Australia is a biogeographic region in Western Australia. It includes the Mediterranean-climate area of southweste ...
''
* ''Austromyrtus
''Austromyrtus'' is a genus of shrubs in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. Three species are found along the east coast of Australia; in Queensland and in New South Wales and A. lotoides being endemic to New Caledonia. The fruits of ''A. dulcis'' hav ...
''
* ''Babingtonia
''Babingtonia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. The species are native to Australia. Many species formerly placed in the genus are currently included in ''Sannantha'', '' Baeckea'', ''Oxymyrrhine'', ''Kardomia'' ...
''
* '' Backhousia''
* ''Baeckea
''Baeckea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, all but one endemic to Australia. Plants in the genus ''Baeckea'' are shrubs or small trees with leaves arranged in opposite pairs, white to deep pink flowers with five s ...
''
* '' Balaustion''
* ''Barongia
''Barongia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae first described as a genus in 1988. It contains only one known species, ''Barongia lophandra,'' endemic to the Cook region of Queensland, Australia
Australia, ...
''
* '' Basisperma''
* '' Beaufortia''
* ''Blepharocalyx
''Blepharocalyx'' is a genus of plant in family Myrtaceae first described as a genus in 1854. It is native to South America and the West Indies.McVaugh, R. 1989. Myrtaceae. In: Dicotyledoneae - Part 2. Flora of the Lesser Antilles, Leeward and Wi ...
''
* ''Callistemon
''Callistemon'' is a genus of shrubs in the family Myrtaceae, first described as a genus in 1814. The entire genus is endemic to Australia but widely cultivated in many other regions and naturalised in scattered locations. Their status as a se ...
''
* ''Calothamnus
''Calothamnus'' is a genus of shrubs in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. The common names one-sided bottlebrush or claw flower are given to some species due to their having the flowers clustered on ...
''
* ''Calycolpus
''Calycolpus'' is a genus of the botanical family Myrtaceae, first described as a genus in 1856. It is native to the South America, Central America, and the West Indies.
The species formerly called '' Calycolpus excisus'' is a small tree known o ...
''
* ''Calycorectes
''Calycorectes'' is a genus of plant in family Myrtaceae first described as a genus in 1856.Calyptranthes
''Myrcia'' is a genus of plants in the family Myrtaceae, containing about 765 species as of 2022. They are distributed in Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, with centers of diversity in the Brazilian Cerrado and Atlantic Forest ...
''
* ''Calyptrogenia
''Eugenia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. It has a worldwide, although highly uneven, distribution in tropical and subtropical regions. The bulk of the approximately 1,100 species occur in the New World tropics, ...
''
* ''Calytrix
''Calytrix'' is a genus of shrubs in the family Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1806. They are commonly known as starflowers. ''Calytrix'' are endemic to Australia, occurring in the (Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, and We ...
''
* ''Campomanesia
''Campomanesia'' is a genus in the family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the w ...
''
* ''Chamelaucium
''Chamelaucium'', also known as waxflower, is a genus of shrubs endemic to south western Western Australia. They belong to the myrtle family Myrtaceae and have flowers similar to those of the tea-trees (''Leptospermum''). The most well-known spe ...
''
* ''Chamguava
''Chamguava'' is a genus of the botanical family Myrtaceae, first described as a genus in 1991. It is native to southern Mexico and Central America.Govaerts, R., Sobral, N., Ashton, P., Barrie, F., Holst, B.K., Landrum, L.L., Matsumoto, K., Ferna ...
''
* '' Cheyniana''
* ''Choricarpia
''Backhousia'' is a genus of thirteen currently known species of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae. All the currently known species are endemic to Australia in the rainforests and seasonally dry forests of Queensland, New South Wales and ...
''
* '' Cleistocalyx''
* ''Cloezia
''Cloezia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae first described as a genus in 1863. The entire genus is endemic to New Caledonia. It is related to '' Thaleropia'', '' Tristania'' and '' Xanthomyrtus''.Biffin, E., E. J. Lucas, ...
''
* ''Conothamnus
''Conothamnus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. They are woody shrubs similar to melaleucas but differ in that their leaves are usually arranged in opposite pairs ...
''
* ''Corymbia
''Corymbia'', commonly known as bloodwoods, is a genus of about one hundred species of tree that, along with ''Eucalyptus'', '' Angophora'' and several smaller groups, are referred to as eucalypts. Until 1990, corymbias were included in the gen ...
''
* ''Corynanthera
''Corynanthera'' is a genus of the botanical family Myrtaceae, first described as a genus in 1979. It contains only one known species, ''Corynanthera flava'', endemic to Shire of Irwin in Western Australia
Western Australia (commonly abbrevi ...
''
* ''Curitiba
Curitiba () is the capital and largest city in the state of Paraná (state), Paraná in Brazil. The city's population was 1,948,626 , making it the List of cities in Brazil by population, eighth most populous city in Brazil and the largest in ...
''
* '' Cyathostemon''
* ''Darwinia Darwinia may refer to:
* ''Darwinia'' (plant) Rudge 1815, a genus of Myrtaceae found only in Australia
*''Darwinia'' Raf., a synonym of the legume genus ''Sesbania'' Adans.
* ''Darwinia'' (video game), a 2005 video game by Introversion Software
* '' ...
''
* '' Decaspermum''
* ''Enekbatus
''Enekbatus'' is a genus of shrubs in the family Myrtaceae described as a genus in 2010. ''Enekbatus'' are endemic to Western Australia.
There are 11 species of ''Enekbatus'' that are recognised all of which are small to medium-sized shrubs tha ...
''
* '' Eremaea''
* '' Ericomyrtus''
* '' Eucalyptopsis''
* ''Eucalyptus
''Eucalyptus'' () is a genus of over seven hundred species of flowering trees, shrubs or mallees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Along with several other genera in the tribe Eucalypteae, including '' Corymbia'', they are commonly known as euca ...
''
* '' Eugenia''
* ''Euryomyrtus
''Euryomyrtus'' is a genus of shrubs, in the family Myrtaceae, all of which are endemic to Australia.
Species include:
*'' Euryomyrtus denticulata'' (Maiden & Betche) Trudgen
*'' Euryomyrtus inflata'' Trudgen
*'' Euryomyrtus leptospermoides'' ...
''
* ''Gomidesia
''Myrcia'' is a genus of plants in the family Myrtaceae, containing about 765 species as of 2022. They are distributed in Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, with centers of diversity in the Brazilian Cerrado and Atlantic Forest ...
''
* '' Gossia''
* ''Harmogia
''Harmogia'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae. The sole species is ''Harmogia densifolia'' which is endemic to Australia.
''Harmogia densifolia'' is a shrub to 1.5 metres high with linear or terete leaves. White ...
''
* '' Heteropyxis''
* '' Hexachlamys''
* '' Homalocalyx''
* '' Homalospermum''
* ''Homoranthus
''Homoranthus'' is a genus of about thirty species of plants in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and all are endemic to Australia. Plants in this genus share similarities with those in both '' Darwinia'' and '' Verticordia''. They are shrubs with th ...
''
* ''Hottea
''Eugenia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. It has a worldwide, although highly uneven, distribution in tropical and subtropical regions. The bulk of the approximately 1,100 species occur in the New World tropics, ...
''
* '' Hypocalymma''
* '' Kanakomyrtus''
* '' Kania''
* ''Kardomia
''Kardomia '' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae. The genus was first formally described in 2007 and includes species previously included in ''Baeckea'' and ''Babingtonia''. The entire genus is native to northeastern Australi ...
''
* '' Kjellbergiodendron''
* '' Kunzea''
* ''Lamarchea
''Lamarchea'' is a genus of shrub in the myrtle family Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1830. The entire genus is endemic to Australia.
;Species
# '' Lamarchea hakeifolia'' Gaudich. - Shire of Irwin in Western Australia
# '' Lamarchea sulcata' ...
''
* '' Legrandia''
* ''Lenwebbia
''Lenwebbia'' is a genus of shrubs or small trees in the myrtle family Myrtaceae.Snow et al. 2003 The genus is named to honour the Australian plant ecologist Dr. Leonard Webb. The genus occurs in mesic forests along or near the east coast of Au ...
''
* ''Leptospermum
''Leptospermum'' is a genus of shrubs and small trees in the myrtle family Myrtaceae commonly known as tea trees, although this name is sometimes also used for some species of ''Melaleuca''. Most species are endemic to Australia, with the greate ...
''
* '' Lindsayomyrtus''
* '' Lithomyrtus''
* ''Lophomyrtus
''Lophomyrtus'' is a genus of the myrtle family described as a genus in 1941. The entire genus is endemic to New Zealand. It consists of evergreen shrubs or trees, noted for their colorful leaves, which are purple, chocolate, red or bronze-gree ...
''
* ''Lophostemon
''Lophostemon'' ('lophos' - crest, 'stemon' - stamen) is a genus of 4 species of evergreen tree in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. All four species are native to Australia, with one extending to New Guinea. The genus was first described in 1830 bu ...
''
* '' Luma''
* '' Lysicarpus''
* '' Malleostemon''
* ''Marlierea
''Myrcia'' is a genus of plants in the family Myrtaceae, containing about 765 species as of 2022. They are distributed in Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, with centers of diversity in the Brazilian Cerrado and Atlantic Forest ...
''
* ''Melaleuca
''Melaleuca'' () is a genus of nearly 300 species of plants in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, commonly known as paperbarks, honey-myrtles or tea-trees (although the last name is also applied to species of '' Leptospermum''). They range in size ...
''
* '' Meteoromyrtus''
* ''Metrosideros
''Metrosideros'' is a genus of approximately 60 trees, shrubs, and vines mostly found in the Pacific region in the family Myrtaceae. Most of the tree forms are small, but some are exceptionally large, the New Zealand species in particular. The n ...
''
* ''Micromyrtus
''Micromyrtus'' is a genus of shrubs, in the family Myrtaceae, described as a genus in 1865. The entire genus is endemic to Australia.
Species
The following is a list of species accepted by the Australian Plant Census as at March 2020:
* ' ...
''
* '' Mitranthes''
* '' Mitrantia''
* ''Mosiera
''Mosiera'' is a genus of shrubs and small trees in the family Myrtaceae, first described as a genus in 1933. It is native to Mexico, Guatemala, the West Indies, Brazil, and Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region o ...
''
* '' Myrceugenia''
* ''Myrcia
''Myrcia'' is a genus of plants in the family Myrtaceae, containing about 765 species as of 2022. They are distributed in Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, with centers of diversity in the Brazilian Cerrado and Atlantic Forest ...
''
* ''Myrcianthes
''Myrcianthes'' is a genus of flowering plants in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1856.Myrciaria''
* '' Myrrhinium''
* ''
Myrtastrum
''Myrtastrum'' is a genus of plants in the Myrtaceae first described as a genus in 1941. It contains only one known species, ''Myrtastrum rufopunctatum'', endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographi ...
''
* ''Myrtella
''Myrtella'' is a genus of plants in the Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1877. It is native to New Guinea and to some islands of the western Pacific Islands, Pacific.Govaerts, R., Sobral, N., Ashton, P., Barrie, F., Holst, B.K., Landrum, L.L., ...
''
* ''Myrteola
''Myrteola'' is a plant genus in the Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1856. It is native to South America and the Falkland Islands.
These plants are shrubs with leaves no more than 1 cm long, with white flowers of 4 petals and fruits. In ...
''
* ''Myrtus
''Myrtus'' (commonly called myrtle) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae. It was first described by Swedish botanist Linnaeus in 1753.
Over 600 names have been proposed in the genus, but nearly all have either been moved ...
''
* '' Neofabricia''
* '' Neomitranthes''
* '' Neomyrtus''
* ''Ochrosperma
''Ochrosperma'' is a group of shrubs and small trees in the myrtle family Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1987. The genus is endemic to Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign cou ...
''
* '' Octamyrtus''
* ''Osbornia
''Osbornia'' is a genus of plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1862.Paleomyrtinaea''
* '' Paragonis''
* '' Pericalymma''
* ''
Phymatocarpus
''Phymatocarpus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. All three species are shrubs with pink to purple flowers.
Description
Plants in the genus ''Phymatocarpus'' are shrub ...
''
* '' Pileanthus''
* '' Pilidiostigma''
* '' Pimenta''
* '' Pleurocalyptus''
* ''Plinia
''Plinia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae described by Linnaeus in 1753. It is native to Central and South America as well as the West Indies
The West Indies is a subregion of North America, surrounded ...
''
* '' Pseudanamomis''
* ''Psidium
''Psidium'' is a genus of trees and shrubs in the family Myrtaceae. It is native to warmer parts of the Western Hemisphere (Mexico, Central and South America, the West Indies the Galápagos islands).
Taxonomy
This genus was described first by ...
''
* ''Psiloxylon
''Psiloxylon mauritianum'' (known locally as "bois bigaignon") is a species of flowering plant, the sole species of the genus ''Psiloxylon''. It is endemic to the Mascarene Islands (Mauritius and Réunion) in the Indian Ocean.
It is a white-ba ...
''
* ''Purpureostemon
''Purpureostemon'' is a genus of plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1939. There is only one known species, ''Purpureostemon ciliatus'', endemic to New Caledonia
)
, anthem = ""
, image_map = New Caledonia on the gl ...
''
* ''Regelia
''Regelia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic (ecology), endemic to the Southwest_Australia, south-west of Western Australia. The genus is composed of five species of small leaved, evergreen shrubs which hav ...
''
* ''Rhodamnia
''Rhodamnia'' is a group of rainforest trees and shrubs in the myrtle family described as a genus in 1822.Govaerts, R., Sobral, N., Ashton, P., Barrie, F., Holst, B.K., Landrum, L.L., Matsumoto, K., Fernanda Mazine, F., Nic Lughadha, E., Proenç ...
''
* ''Rhodomyrtus
''Rhodomyrtus'' is a group of shrubs and trees in the family Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1841. The genus is native to southern China, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Melanesia, and Australia.
Its greatest levels of diversity are o ...
''
* ''Rinzia
''Rinzia '' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae. The genus was first formally described in 1843 and reinstated and revised in 1986.Trudgen, M.E., (1986) Reinstatement and revision of ''Rinzia'' Schauer (Myrtaceae, Leptosperme ...
''
* ''Ristantia
''Ristantia'' is a group of plants in the family Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1982. The entire genus is endemic to the State of Queensland in Australia.
;Species
# ''Ristantia gouldii'' Peter G. Wilson & B. Hyland - a tree species listed a ...
''
* ''Sannantha
''Sannantha'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae that are native to Australia and New Caledonia. Plants in the genus ''Sannantha'' are shrubs or trees with leaves arranged in opposite pairs, flowers usually arranged in small g ...
''
* '' Scholtzia''
* ''Seorsus
''Seorsus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae.
The occurrence of the four species in Australia and Borneo is widely spaced, and is thought to be indicative that the genus predates the breakup of Gondwana.
Species includ ...
''
* '' Siphoneugena''
* ''Sphaerantia
''Sphaerantia'' is a group of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae, described as a genus in 1988. The entire genus is endemic to the northern part of the State of Queensland in Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Au ...
''
* ''Stenostegia
''Stenostegia'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Myrtaceae
Myrtaceae, the myrtle family, is a family of dicotyledonous plants placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, pōhutukawa, bay rum tree, clove, g ...
''
* '' Stereocaryum''
* ''Stockwellia
''Stockwellia'' is a monotypic genus in the flowering plant family Myrtaceae. The sole species in the genus, ''Stockwellia quadrifida'' (commonly known as Vic Stockwell's puzzle), is endemic to Queensland.
Description
''Stockwellia quadrifida' ...
''
* ''Syncarpia
''Syncarpia'' is a small group of trees in the myrtle family (Myrtaceae) described as a genus in 1839. They are native to Queensland and New South Wales in Australia.Govaerts, R., Sobral, N., Ashton, P., Barrie, F., Holst, B.K., Landrum, L.L., ...
''
* '' Syzygium''
* '' Taxandria''
* ''Thaleropia
''Thaleropia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae first described as a genus in 1993. It is native to Queensland and Papuasia.
It includes three known species formally classified in the genus ''Metrosideros'':
# '' Thaleropia ...
''
* ''Thryptomene
''Thryptomene'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to Australia. Plants in the genus ''Thryptomene'' are shrubs with small leaves arranged in opposite pairs and white or pink flowers. About forty-seven specie ...
''
* ''Triplarina
''Triplarina'' is a genus of seven species of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae. They are ''Baeckea''-like shrubs with small leaves arranged in opposite pairs and flowers with five sepals, five more or less round petals, and fourteen to e ...
''
* '' Tristania''
* '' Tristaniopsis''
* ''Ugni
''Ugni'' is a genus of plants in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, described as a genus in 1848. It is native to western Latin America from the Valdivian temperate rain forests of southern Chile (including the Juan Fernández Islands) and adjacent ...
''
* ''Uromyrtus
''Uromyrtus'' is a genus of plants in the myrtle family Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1941. The greatest diversity of species are found in New Caledonia and the remainder are found in Australia, New Guinea and Borneo.Govaerts, R., Sobral, N., ...
''
* ''Verticordia
:For the clam genus, see ''Verticordia'' (bivalve).
''Verticordia'' is a genus of more than 100 species of plants commonly known as featherflowers, in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. They range in form from very small shrubs such as '' V. vertico ...
''
* ''Waterhousea
''Syzygium'' () is a genus of flowering plants that belongs to the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. The genus comprises about 1200 species, and has a native range that extends from Africa and Madagascar through southern Asia east through the Pacific. I ...
''
* '' Welchiodendron''
* '' Whiteodendron''
* ''Xanthomyrtus
Xanthomyrtus is a group of shrubs and trees in the botanical family Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1922. It is found in Borneo, Moluccas, Sulawesi, Philippines, New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago and New Caledonia.
They are mostly montane shrub ...
''
* '' Xanthostemon''
Foraging
''Myrtaceae'' is foraged by many stingless bees, especially by species such as ''Melipona bicolor
''Melipona bicolor'' , commonly known as Guaraipo or Guarupu, is a eusocial bee found primarily in South America. It is an inhabitant of the Araucaria Forest and the Atlantic Rainforest, and is most commonly found from South to East Brazil, Bol ...
'' which gather pollen from this plant family. Some Australian species such as '' Tetragonula hockingsi'' And ''Tetragonula carbonaria
''Tetragonula carbonaria'' (previously known as ''Trigona carbonaria'') is a stingless bee, endemic to the north-east coast of Australia. Its common name is sugarbag bee. They are also occasionally referred to as bush bees. The bee is known to po ...
'' are also known to collect resin from the mature seed pods of '' Corymbia torelliana'', resulting in '' Mellitochory'' as the seeds get stuck onto the ''corbiculae
The pollen basket or corbicula (plural corbiculae) is part of the tibia on the hind legs of certain species of bees. They use the structure in harvesting pollen and carrying it to the nest or hive. Other species of bees have scopae instead.
Ety ...
'' of the bees and sometimes be successfully disposed of by colony members that remove them. But usually, they are known to get stuck in the hives or near hive entrances instead in most cases hence also making it a minor nuisance for some keepers as they can take up a lot of space. Fortunately, this is only known to occur in the eastern areas of ''Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
'', but could occur in other neighbouring countries where some ''Corymbia
''Corymbia'', commonly known as bloodwoods, is a genus of about one hundred species of tree that, along with ''Eucalyptus'', '' Angophora'' and several smaller groups, are referred to as eucalypts. Until 1990, corymbias were included in the gen ...
'' species are known to be native.
References
External links
* {{Authority control Myrtales families