Myrtaceae or the myrtle family is a family of dicotyledonous plants placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, pohutukawa, bay rum tree, clove, guava, acca (feijoa), allspice, and eucalyptus 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, alternate to mostly opposite, simple, and usually entire. The flowers 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.
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 greatest diversity in the south of the continent, but some are native to other parts of the world, including New Zealand and Southeast Asia. Leptospermums all have five conspicuous petals and five groups of stamens which alternate with the petals. There is a single style in the centre of the flower and the fruit is a woody capsule.
Rhamnaceae is a large family of flowering plants, mostly trees, shrubs, and some vines, commonly called the buckthorn family. Rhamnaceae is included in the order Rosales.
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 Leptospermum but differ in having stamens that are longer than the petals. Most kunzeas are endemic to Western Australia but a few occur in eastern Australia and a few are found in New Zealand. The taxonomy of the genus is not settled and is complicated by the existence of a number of hybrids.
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.
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 species is the Geraldton wax, Chamelaucium uncinatum, which is cultivated widely for its large attractive flowers.
Thryptomene is a genus of small shrubs in the family Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1838. The entire genus is endemic to Australia.
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.
Taxandria is a group of plants in the family Myrtaceae described as a genus in 2007. The entire genus is endemic to Western Australia, growing near the coast in the South West corner of the State.
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.
Scholtzia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae, which are endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. The genus was first described by Schauer in 1843, who named it in honour of the physician Heinrich Scholtz. The type species is Scholtzia obovata.
Sannantha is a genus of shrubs in the family Myrtaceae. The species, which occur in Australia and New Caledonia, include:
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.
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. The entire genus is endemic to Western Australia.
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.
- Malleostemon costatusRye & Trudgen
- Malleostemon decipiens(W.Fitzg.) Trudgen
- Malleostemon hursthousei(W.Fitzg.) J.W.Green
- Malleostemon microphyllusRye & Trudgen
- Malleostemon minilyaensisJ.W.Green
- Malleostemon nephroideusRye
- Malleostemon nerrenensisRye & Trudgen
- Malleostemon pedunculatusJ.W.Green
- Malleostemon peltiger(S.Moore) J.W.Green
- Malleostemon pustulatusRye
- Malleostemon roseus(E.Pritz.) J.W.Green
- Malleostemon tuberculatus(E.Pritz.) J.W.Green
- Malleostemon uniflorusRye
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.
- Pericalymma crassipes(Lehm.) Schauer
- Pericalymma ellipticum(Endl.) Schauer
- Pericalymma megaphyllumCranfield
- Pericalymma spongiocauleCranfield
Cyathostemon ambiguus is a member of the family Myrtaceae endemic to Western Australia.
Malcolm Eric Trudgen is a West Australian botanist. He has published some 105 botanical names. He currently runs his own consulting company, ME Trudgen and Associates.
