Myrtaceae, the myrtle family, is a family of dicotyledonous

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 exclu ...

s placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle,

pōhutukawa ''Metrosideros excelsa'', commonly known as pōhutukawa ( mi, pōhutukawa), New Zealand Christmas tree, New Zealand Christmas bush, and iron tree, is a coastal evergreen tree in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, that produces a brilliant display o ...

, bay rum tree, clove, guava, acca (feijoa), allspice, 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 e ...

are some notable members of this group. All species are woody, contain essential oils, and have flower parts in multiples of four or five. The leaves 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, whic ...

, 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 stamens 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 the

Paleocene The Paleocene, ( ) or Palaeocene, is a geological epoch that lasted from about 66 to 56 million years ago (mya). It is the first epoch of the Paleogene Period in the modern Cenozoic Era. The name is a combination of the Ancient Greek ''pal ...

era. Pollen fossils have been sourced to the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. The breakup of Gondwana 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 ...

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 geographical region that includes Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Spanning the Eastern and Western hemispheres, Oceania is estimated to have a land area of and a population of around 44.5 million ...

. 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'' 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, islands which may have been submerged at the time of late

Eocene The Eocene ( ) Epoch is a geological epoch that lasted from about 56 to 33.9 million years ago (mya). It is the second epoch of the Paleogene Period in the modern Cenozoic Era. The name ''Eocene'' comes from the Ancient Greek (''ēṓs'', " ...

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 hotspot A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with significant levels of biodiversity that is threatened by human habitation. Norman Myers wrote about the concept in two articles in ''The Environmentalist'' in 1988 and 1990, after which the c ...

s. 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 e ...

'', '' Corymbia'', '' Angophora'', '' Leptospermum'', and '' Melaleuca'' are absent from the Americas, apart from '' Metrosideros'' 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 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. Th ...

(the

Australasian realm The Australasian realm is a biogeographic realm that is coincident with, but not (by some definitions) the same as, the geographical region of Australasia. The realm includes Australia, the island of New Guinea (comprising Papua New Guinea and th ...

) 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 ''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 euc ...

'' is the tallest flowering plant in the world. Other important Australian genera are '' Callistemon'' (bottlebrushes), ''

Syzygium ''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. ...

'', and '' Melaleuca'' (paperbarks). Species of the genus '' Osbornia'', native to Australasia, are

mangrove A mangrove is a shrub or tree that grows in coastal saline or brackish water. The term is also used for tropical coastal vegetation consisting of such species. Mangroves are taxonomically diverse, as a result of convergent evolution in severa ...

s. ''

Eugenia ''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, ...

'', '' Myrcia'', and '' Calyptranthes'' are among the larger genera in the neotropics. Wax apple

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'' 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 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 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 species ...

* tribe

Psiloxyleae ''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 ...

* tribe Heteropyxideae Subfamily Myrtoideae * tribe

Xanthostemoneae Xanthostemoneae is a tribe in the plant family Myrtaceae.Wilson, 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, ...

* tribe Lophostemoneae * tribe Osbornieae * tribe Melaleuceae * tribe Kanieae * tribe Backhousieae * 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 * 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 substa ...

* tribe Syncarpieae * tribe Lindsayomyrteae * tribe

Leptospermeae Leptospermeae 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, 20 ...

* tribe Chamelaucieae

Genera

* '' Abbevillea'' * '' Actinodium'' * ''

Agonis ''Agonis'' is a genus in the plant family Myrtaceae. All are endemic to Western Australia, growing near the coast in the south west. Description Only one, ''Agonis flexuosa'', grows to tree size; the others generally grow as tall shrubs. '' ...

'' * ''

Algrizea ''Algrizea'' is a genus in the plant family Myrtaceae first described as a genus in 2006. The entire genus is endemic to the State of Bahia in northeastern Brazil. ;Species # '' Algrizea macrochlamys'' (DC.) Proença & NicLugh. 2006. - Bahia # ' ...

'' * ''

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 St ...

'' * ''

Aluta ''Aluta'' is a genus of small shrubs in the family Myrtaceae. Species occur in Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. When the genus was erected in 2000, three species were transferred from the genus ''Thryptomene''. Spe ...

'' * ''

Amomyrtella ''Amomyrtella'' is a genus of flowering plants in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, first described as a genus in 1956. It is native to South America, where it is distributed from Ecuador to Argentina.Amomyrtus'' * '' Angasomyrtus'' * '' Angophora'' * '' Archirhodomyrtus'' * ''

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 ''Astartea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. The genus is endemic to southwestern Western Australia. The genus name was inspired by Astarte, the Greek name for the goddess Ishtar.Asteromyrtus ''Asteromyrtus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the Myrtaceae family. It is closely related to ''Callistemon'' and ''Melaleuca''. History ''Asteromyrtus'' was described as a genus in 1843. The genus was subsequently subsumed into ''Melaleuca' ...

'' * ''

Astus ''Astus'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Myrtaceae. Its native range is Southwest Australia. Species: *''Astus duomilia'' *''Astus subroseus'' *''Astus tetragonus'' *''Astus wittweri ''Astus'' is a genus of flowe ...

'' * '' Austromyrtus'' * '' Babingtonia'' * ''

Backhousia ''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 ...

'' * '' Baeckea'' * ''

Balaustion ''Balaustion'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. The sole species is ''Balaustion pulcherrimum'', commonly known as the native pomegranate, which is endemic to Western Australia Western Australia (commo ...

'' * '' Barongia'' * ''

Basisperma ''Basisperma'' is a genus of flowering plants in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae first described as a genus in 1942. There is only one known species, ''Basisperma lanceolata'', endemic to Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; ...

'' * '' Beaufortia'' * '' Blepharocalyx'' * '' Callistemon'' * '' Calothamnus'' * '' Calycolpus'' * '' Calycorectes'' * '' Calyptranthes'' * '' Calyptrogenia'' * ''

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 Wes ...

'' * '' Campomanesia'' * '' Chamelaucium'' * '' Chamguava'' * ''

Cheyniana ''Cheyniana'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae. Two species are currently recognised, both endemic to Western Australia: *''Cheyniana microphylla'' (C.A.Gardner) Rye (basionym ''Balaustion microphyllum'') - Bush pomegranat ...

'' * ''

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 a ...

'' * '' Cleistocalyx'' * ''

Cloezia ''Cloezia'' is a genus (biology), genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Myrtaceae first described as a genus in 1863. The entire genus is endemic to New Caledonia. It is related to ''Thaleropia'', ''Tristania (plant), Tristan ...

'' * '' Conothamnus'' * '' Corymbia'' * '' Corynanthera'' * ''

Curitiba Curitiba () is the capital and largest city in the state of Paraná in Brazil. The city's population was 1,948,626 , making it the eighth most populous city in Brazil and the largest in Brazil's South Region. The Curitiba Metropolitan area ...

'' * '' Cyathostemon'' * '' Darwinia'' * ''

Decaspermum ''Decaspermum'' is a genus of the botanical family Myrtaceae, first described as a genus in 1776. It is native to China, Southeast Asia, Queensland, and various islands of the Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest ...

'' * ''

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 ''Eucalyptopsis'' is a genus of describing two species of trees, constituting part of the plant family Myrtaceae and included in the eucalypts group. They have botanical records of growing naturally in New Guinea and the Moluccas, within the Male ...

'' * ''

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'' * ''

Gossia ''Gossia'' is a genus of rainforest trees in the myrtle family first described as a genus in 2003. It is native to northeastern Australia (Queensland and New South Wales) as well as several islands of Papuasia and New Caledonia. The name honour ...

'' * ''

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 ''Homalospermum'' is a genus of plants in the myrtle family first described as a genus in 1843. It contains only one known species, ''Homalospermum firmum'', endemic to southwestern Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated a ...

'' * '' Homoranthus'' * ''

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 ''Hypocalymma'' is a genus of evergreen shrubs in the myrtle family Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1840. The entire genus is endemic to southern Western Australia. Species list The following is a list of formally described ''Hypocalymma'' spe ...

'' * '' 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 ''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 ...

'' * '' Lamarchea'' * '' Legrandia'' * '' Lenwebbia'' * '' Leptospermum'' * '' Lindsayomyrtus'' * ''

Lithomyrtus ''Lithomyrtus'' is a genus of small trees and shrubs in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. There are 11 species, native to the tropics of northern Australia and New Guinea: *''Lithomyrtus cordata'' (A.J.Scott) N.Snow & Guymer - (Northern Territory) * ...

'' * '' Lophomyrtus'' * ''

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 Luma or LUMA may refer to: Arts * La Trobe University Museum of Art, Melbourne, Australia * LUMA Projection Arts Festival, an annual event featuring building-scale projection mapping and light installations in Binghamton, NY * LUMA Foundation, ...

'' * ''

Lysicarpus ''Lysicarpus'' is a genus of trees in the family Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1858. It contains a single known species, ''Lysicarpus angustifolius'', endemic to the State of Queensland in Australia Australia, officially the Common ...

'' * ''

Malleostemon ''Malleostemon'' is a genus of flowering plants in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, described as a genus in 1983, by John Green The entire genus is endemic to Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australi ...

'' * '' Marlierea'' * '' Melaleuca'' * '' Meteoromyrtus'' * '' Metrosideros'' * ''

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 ''Mitrantia'' is a genus of plant in family Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1988. It contains only one known species, ''Mitrantia bilocularis,'' ''endemic'' to the State of Queensland in northeastern Australia Australia, officially th ...

'' * ''

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 ''Myrceugenia'' is a genus of evergreen woody flowering trees and shrubs belonging to the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, first described as a genus in 1855.

'' * '' Myrcia'' * '' Myrcianthes'' * ''

Myrciaria ''Myrciaria'' is a genus of large shrubs and small trees described as a genus in 1856. It is native to Central and South America, Mexico, and the West Indies, with many of the species endemic to Brazil. Common names include hivapuru, sabará, ...

'' * '' Myrrhinium'' * '' Myrtastrum'' * '' Myrtella'' * '' Myrteola'' * '' Myrtus'' * ''

Neofabricia ''Neofabricia'' is a genus of shrubs and small trees in the family Myrtaceae, first described as a genus in 1788, with the name ''Fabricia''. This, however, was an illegitimate homonym, in other words, someone had already used the name to refer t ...

'' * '' 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 country comprising ...

'' * '' Octamyrtus'' * '' Osbornia'' * †'' Paleomyrtinaea'' * ''

Paragonis ''Paragonis grandiflora'' is a plant species, endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. Taxonomy ''Paragonis grandiflora'' was described as ''Agonis grandiflora'' by George Bentham in 1867, and remained so until it was segregated in 2007 ...

'' * ''

Pericalymma ''Pericalymma'' is a group of plants in the myrtle family Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1840. The entire genus is endemic to Western Australia. ;Species # '' Pericalymma crassipes'' (Lehm.) Schauer # '' Pericalymma ellipticum'' (Endl.) Scha ...

'' * '' Phymatocarpus'' * ''

Pileanthus ''Pileanthus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae, endemic to Western Australia. Collectively referred to by the common name coppercups, the eight currently recognised species are: *''Pileanthus aurantiacus'' *''Pileant ...

'' * '' Pilidiostigma'' * '' Pimenta'' * ''

Pleurocalyptus ''Pleurocalyptus'' is a group of shrubs and small trees in the family Myrtaceae, first described as a genus in 1868. The entire genus is endemic to New Caledonia. It is closely related to ''Xanthostemon ''Xanthostemon'' is a genus of trees and ...

'' * ''

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 West Indies is a subregion of North America, surrounde ...

'' * '' Psiloxylon'' * ''

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. ''Purpureostemon'' is related to ''Xanthostemon ''Xanth ...

'' * ''

Regelia ''Regelia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. The genus is composed of five species of small leaved, evergreen shrubs which have heads of flowers on the ends of bran ...

'' * '' Rhodamnia'' * '' Rhodomyrtus'' * ''

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 ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Locati ...

'' * ''

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'' * ''

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., ...

'' * ''

'' * '' Taxandria'' * '' Thaleropia'' * '' Thryptomene'' * ''

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 ''Tristaniopsis'' is a group of shrub and tree in the myrtle family Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1863. They have a wide distribution in Southeast Asia, New Guinea, New Caledonia ) , anthem = "" , image_map = New Caledonia on the globe ...

'' * '' Ugni'' * '' Uromyrtus'' * '' Verticordia'' * '' Waterhousea'' * '' Welchiodendron'' * ''

Whiteodendron ''Whiteodendron'' is a genus of plant in family Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1952. It contains only one known species, ''Whiteodendron moultonianum'', endemic to Borneo Borneo (; id, Kalimantan) is the third-largest island in the wo ...

'' * '' Xanthomyrtus'' * ''

Xanthostemon ''Xanthostemon'' is a genus of trees and shrubs, constituting part of the myrtle plant family Myrtaceae. This genus was first described in 1857 by German–Australian botanist Ferdinand von Mueller. According to different official sources between ...

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, B ...

'' which gather pollen from this plant family. Some Australian species such as '' Tetragonula hockingsi'' And '' Tetragonula carbonaria'' are also known to collect resin from the mature seed pods of ''

Corymbia torelliana ''Corymbia torelliana'', commonly known as cadaghi or cadaga, is a species of tree that is endemic to north Queensland. It has smooth, greenish grey to white bark, rough at the base of older trees, egg-shaped, heart-shaped or lance-shaped adult ...

'', resulting in '' Mellitochory'' as the seeds get stuck onto the '' corbiculae'' 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'', but could occur in other neighbouring countries where some '' Corymbia'' species are known to be native.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Myrtales families