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 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.
Metrosideros is a genus of approximately 60 trees, shrubs, and vines in the family Myrtaceae, mostly found in the Pacific region. Most of the tree forms are small, but some are exceptionally large, the New Zealand species in particular. The name derives from the Ancient Greek metra or "heartwood" and sideron or "iron". Perhaps the best-known species are the pōhutukawa, northern rātā and southern rātā of New Zealand, and ʻōhiʻa lehua from the Hawaiian Islands.
Tasmannia is a genus of about 36 species of flowering plants in the family Winteraceae, and is native to Australia and New Guinea, with one species also found in parts of Southeast Asia. Plants in the genus Tasmannia are shrubs or small trees, usually dioecious with simple leaves, mostly white, sometimes yellow flowers, and one to many clusters of berries.
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 Western Australia.
Lophostemon 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 but not widely recognized until the 1980s. All 4 species were previously included in the related genus Tristania.
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.
Tristaniopsis is a genus of shrubs and trees in the myrtle family Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1863. They have a wide distribution in Southeast Asia, New Guinea, New Caledonia and Australia.
Asteromyrtus is a genus of flowering plants in the Myrtaceae family. It is closely related to Callistemon and Melaleuca.
Xanthostemon is a genus of plants in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, first described in 1857 by the German–born Australian botanist Ferdinand von Mueller. The genus is distributed across Malesia, Papuasia and northern Australia. The genera Pleurocalyptus and Purpureostemon from New Caledonia are morphologically close to Xanthostemon.
Zygogynum is a genus of plants in the family Winteraceae with 47 species as of October 2024. They are native to areas from Borneo through New Guinea and Queensland to New Caledonia, with 22 species in New Guinea. Initially, the genus was thought to be endemic to New Caledonia, but in 1985 Willem Vink transferred the related genera Bubbia and Exospermum to Zygogynum, thus extending the range westward. More recently, new species have been identified and described which again extends the range of the genus such that it now includes Borneo.
Rhodomyrtus is a group of shrubs and trees in the family Myrtaceae, described as a genus in 1841 and native to southern China, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Melanesia, and Australia.
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 groups, the peduncles often 1.5–2 times as long as the pedicels and with seven to fourteen stamens. The fruit is a thin-walled capsule containing flattened, D-shaped seeds. Some species of Sannantha were previously included in the genus Babingtonia.
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.
- Ristantia gouldiiPeter G. Wilson & B. Hyland - a tree species listed as vulnerable
- Ristantia pachysperma(F.Muell. & F.M.Bailey) Peter G.Wilson & J.T.Waterh.
- Ristantia waterhouseiPeter G.Wilson & B.Hyland
Gossia is a genus of rainforest trees in the myrtle family first described as a genus in 2003 by Neil Snow, Gordon Guymer and Sawvel. It is native to northeastern Australia as well as several islands of Papuasia and New Caledonia.
Metrosideros nervulosa, commonly known as the mountain rose, is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae. It is endemic to Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea, part of the Australian state of New South Wales. It occurs in shrubland or low forest, mainly at altitudes of 300–875 m on the main peaks of the island. It prefers sunny positions on exposed ridges or in the forest canopy.
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.
Octamyrtus is a group of plants in the myrtle family Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1922. It is native to New Guinea and to the nearby Indonesian Province of Maluku.
- Octamyrtus arfakensisKaneh. & Hatus. ex C.T.White - West New Guinea
- Octamyrtus behrmanniiDiels - New Guinea
- Octamyrtus glomerataKaneh. & Hatus. ex C.T.White - New Guinea
- Octamyrtus halmaherensisCraven & Sunarti - Halmahera
- Octamyrtus insignisDiels - New Guinea
- Octamyrtus pleiopetalaDiels - New Guinea, Aru Islands
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.
Welchiodendron is a genus of plant in family Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1982. It contains only one known species, Welchiodendron longivalve, native to New Guinea and northern Queensland.
Metrosideros leunigii is the oldest described fossil species of the flowering plant genus Metrosideros, named from fossil flowers and fruits uncovered from the Oligocene aged Little Rapid River deposit in Tasmania, Australia, as well as leaves from this deposit and identical leaves from the Eocene aged Hasties deposit, also in Tasmania. These fossils are significant, because they show that Metrosideros once occurred naturally in Australia during the Cenozoic, and has since become extinct.
