English: Myrtle family.
Clades:
Myrtales;
Myrtidae;
Malvanae;
Angiospermae;
Plants.
Members: half of 142 genera; 5500 species.
Content: terpenes; monoterpenes, eucalyptol; sesquiterpenes, caryophyllene, cadinene; phenylpropanoids; tannins.
BotanyShrubs, trees.
Stem: colourful; grouped vessels in wood; flaky bark.
Leaves: opposite, whorled; simple; entire; large; glandular dots, pellucid, intramarginal vein.
Inflorescence: variable, solitary, raceme, panicle.
Flowers: 4-merous or 5-merous; # stamens numerous, large, showy; ovary inferior.
Fruit: fleshy berries or capsules; sepals persistent.
TaxonomyMyrtaceae is the main
Family in
Myrtales in the
Apg3 classification. It gives the Order its name.
Plant theoryIn the first version of the
Plant theory Myrtaceae is placed in
Subphase 4. In the second version of the
Plant theory Myrtaceae is split in
Myrtoideae and
Eucalyptoideae, respectively placed in
Subphase 4 and
Subphase 5.