MYRTACEAE
Morphological description
Woody, non-climbing; usually bark flaky. Sometimes dwarf shrubs (some Decaspermum and Leptospermum); bark peeling off in long scrolls (Tristaniopsis).
Leaves
Leaves simple, entire, pellucid dots (sometimes not distinct), exstipulate. Usually leaves opposite, intramarginal vein. Leaves sometimes needle-shaped (Baeckea). Sometimes leaves spiral (Tristaniopsis); leaves spiral, veins longitudinal (Melaleuca); leaves triplinerved, whitish hairy underneath (Rhodamnia)
Inflorescence
Inflorescence.
Flowers
Flower hermaphroditic; ovary inferior (rarely half inferior), stamens inflexed in bud, petals free, imbricate. Usually stamens numerous, sometimes in phalanges.
Fruit
Fruit.
Seed
Seed.
Different from: Lecythidaceae: leaves spiral, without pellucid dots, often dentate. — Lythraceae: no pellucid dots; ovary superior. — Melastomataceae: no pellucid dots; stamens few, connective with appendages.
Distribution: The family world-wide. In Malesia represented by 35 genera, incl.: - Decaspermum (Indo-Malesia, Pacific), shrubs or trees, lowland and montane rain forest; - Eucalyptus (mostly Australia, some in East Malesia), trees, mostly seasonal forest; - Metrosideros (Malesia, Pacific), trees, lowland and montane rain forest; - Rhodomyrtus (Indo-Australia), shrubs and trees, lowland primary and secondary forest; - Syzygium (paleotropics), trees, lowland and montane rain forest; - Tristaniopsis (Indo-Australia), trees, rain forest, often along streams, also in secondary forest..
Notes: Members of the family are well represented in all vegetation types but best in montane rain forest. — Acmena, Syzygium and other Old World genera are by some placed in one pantropical inclusive genus: Eugenia. — Many species useful to man: edible fruit: Eugenia, Psidium*, Rhodomyrtus, Syzygium; spices: Syzygium, Pimenta*; ornamentals: Callistemon*, Eucalyptus; timber: Eucalyptus, Syzygium; medicinal oil: Eucalyptus, Melaleuca.
Literature: C.A. Backer & R.C. Bakhuizen van den Brink, Fl. Java 1 (1963) 330-351; K.M. Kochummen, Tree Fl. Mal. 3 (1978) 169-253. — Dr. P.G. Wilson (NSW) is coordinating the family revision for Flora Malesiana.
Spot characters (Van Balgooy): Myrtaceae 56, 58, 59, 65, 76, 92 - Decaspermum 66 - Eucalyptus 25 - Eugenia s.l. 15, 17, 46, 60, 70 - Kjelbergiodendron 44 - Leptospermum 100 - Lindsayomyrtus 55 - Metrosideros 100 - Octamyrtus 70; O. pleiopetala 66 - Rhodamnia 64 - Rhodomyrtus 64, 97 - Syncarpia 46 - Syzygium 39, 47, 52, 55, 66 - Tristaniopsis 44, 46, 100, 102 - Whiteodendron 66 - Xanthomyrtus 52 - Xanthostemon 44, 46, 100.
Illustrations: Fig. 118. Melaleuca cajuputi Powell, Fig. 119. Whiteodendron moultonianum (W.W. Sm.) Steenis.
Image in PhytoImages for Myrtaceae