Myrtaceae

Myrtaceae, the myrtle family, is a large group of flowering plants in the order Myrtales. It comprises about 130 genera and roughly 5,000 to 6,000 species of woody plants, mainly evergreen shrubs and trees. The family has a cosmopolitan distribution but is especially diverse in Australia and the Neotropics, with many species adapted to tropical and subtropical climates.

A key feature is the aromatic foliage produced by oil glands in the leaves. Leaves are typically opposite, simple, and entire. Flowers are usually showy, with four or five petals and numerous conspicuous stamens, giving a brush-like bloom; the ovary is often superior and fruit may be berry, drupe, or capsule.

Prominent genera include Eucalyptus and Corymbia, which are major timber and oil producers; Psidium (guava); Syzygium (cloves, rose apples); Acca (feijoa); Melaleuca and Leptospermum (tea trees and related ornamentals). Some classifications also place Callistemon within Melaleuca. The family exhibits substantial morphological diversity across habitats from rainforests to arid woodlands.

Ecology and uses: Many species are adapted to fire or drought and rely on insects or birds for pollination. Fruits and seeds are dispersed by animals, gravity, or wind. Economically, Myrtaceae provides timber, essential oils, edible fruits, spices, and ornamental plants worldwide.

Taxonomy: Myrtaceae belongs to the order Myrtales within the rosids. Molecular studies continue to refine relationships among genera and subgroups, but the core feature of numerous stamens and aromatic leaves remains diagnostic for the family.