Spermatophyta: Dicotyledonae: Archichlamydeae: Myrtales

Myrtaceae - Myrtle family

White, F. (1978) Myrtaceae Flora Zambesiaca 4

Description of the family

Trees, shrubs or rhizomatous suffrutices. Leaves usually opposite or subopposite, (rarely alternate, ternate or in fours), simple, entire, often coriaceous, generally with translucent dots (though these may be difficult to see on occasions). Stipules 0. Inflorescences axillary or terminal. Flowers mostly bisexual, actinomorphic, ± epigynous. Sepals (0-)4-5, sometimes fused to form an operculum, often gland-dotted. Petals (0-)4-5, often gland-dotted. Stamens numerous. Ovary inferior or semi-inferior with (1-)2-5(-10) loculi. Fruit a berry, drupe or capsule.

Worldwide: 129 genera and 4,620 species in tropical and warm areas and in temperate Australia.

Zimbabwe: 17 cultivated genera and 53 cultivated taxa.

Psidium cattleianum

Links to cultivated genera:     View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this family

GenusContent
Agonis (DC.) Sweet
Backhousia Hook. & Harv.Description
Callistemon R.Br.Description, Image
Chamelaucium Desf.
Eucalyptus L'Hér.Description
Eugenia L.Description, Image
Feijoa O. BergDescription, Image
Kunzea Rchb.
Leptospermum J.R. Forst. & G. Forst.Description
Lophostemon SchottDescription, Image
Melaleuca L.Description
Metrosideros Banks ex Gaertn.
Myrtus L.Description
Plinia Plum. ex L.
Psidium L.Description, Image
Syzygium Gaertn.Description, Image
Tristaniopsis Brongn. & GrisDescription

Other sources of information about Myrtaceae:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Myrtaceae
Flora of Caprivi: Myrtaceae
Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Myrtaceae
Flora of Malawi: Myrtaceae
Flora of Malawi: cultivated Myrtaceae
Flora of Mozambique: Myrtaceae
Flora of Mozambique: cultivated Myrtaceae
Flora of Zambia: Myrtaceae
Flora of Zambia: cultivated Myrtaceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: Myrtaceae

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Myrtaceae
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Myrtaceae
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Myrtaceae
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Myrtaceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Myrtaceae
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Myrtaceae
JSTOR Plant Science: Myrtaceae
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Myrtaceae
Wikipedia: Myrtaceae
Plants of the World Online: Myrtaceae
Tropicos: Myrtaceae



Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Cultivated plants: Family page: Myrtaceae.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/cult/family.php?family_id=148, retrieved 29 March 2024

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