Myricaceae

Myricaceae
Myrica faya
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fagales
Family:	Myricaceae A.Rich. ex Kunth [1]
Type genus
Myrica L. 1753
Genera [2]
Canacomyrica Guillaumin Comptonia L'Her. Myrica L.
The range of Myricaceae

Myricaceae is a small family of dicotyledonous shrubs and small trees in the order Fagales. Its type genus is Myrica, the sweet gales. There are three genera in the family, ^[2] although some botanists separate many species from Myrica into a fourth genus Morella. About 55 species are usually accepted in Myrica (with Morella included), one in Canacomyrica , and one in Comptonia . ^[3]

Well-known members of this family include bayberry and sweetfern.

• Canacomyrica Guillaumin 1940
• Comptonia L'Hér. 1789
• Myrica L. 1753 (includes MorellaLour. 1790)

Systematics

Modern molecular phylogenetics suggest the following relationships: ^[4]

	Juglandaceae  (outgroup) Myricaceae Canacomyrica Comptonia Myrica Morella

References

1. Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (2009). "An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG III" (PDF). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 161 (2): 105–121. doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00996.x . hdl: 10654/18083 . Retrieved 2013-07-06.
2. "Myricaceae Rich. ex Kunth". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 2 December 2025.
3. Christenhusz, M. J. M.; Byng, J. W. (2016). "The number of known plants species in the world and its annual increase". Phytotaxa. 261 (3): 201–217. Bibcode:2016Phytx.261..201C. doi: 10.11646/phytotaxa.261.3.1 .
4. Xiang XG, Wang W, Li RQ, Lin L, Liu Y, Zhou ZK, Li ZY, Chen ZD (2014). "Large-scale phylogenetic analyses reveal fagalean diversification promoted by the interplay of diaspores and environments in the Paleogene". Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. 16 (3): 101–110. Bibcode:2014PPEES..16..101X. doi:10.1016/j.ppees.2014.03.001.