Myrtaceae
The Myrtaceae, consisting of trees and shrubs found in the tropics, subtropics, and temperate Australia, comprises about 140 genera and 3,000 species. The leaves are most commonly opposite, and frequently are glandular dotted; stipules are absent or vestigial. The flowers are actinomorphic, commonly with a 4-5-parted calyx and corolla that is frequently reduced and inconspicuous compared to the well-developed androecium of numerous stamens. The gynoecium consists of a single compound pistil of 2-5 carpels, a single style and stigma, and a partly to wholly inferior ovary with 2-5 locules and 2-many axile ovules (or occasionally a single locule with intruded parietal placentation). The fruit is usually a berry or loculicidal capsule.
Each "thumbnail" image below is linked to a larger photograph.
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Calli
stemon citrinus,
red bottle brush. Note reduced perianth, prominent androecium, and inferior ovary.
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Eucalyptus citriodora,
lemon-scented gum. Note the inferior ovary and the prominence of the androecium as the attractive unit of the flower. Note also that Eucalyptus is exceptional in that the calyx is extremely reduced and the corolla forms a lid that falls off as a unit when the stamens expand.
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Eucalyptus deglupta
, Mindanao gum. Very large tree from Indonesia with striking orange and green streaked smooth bark.
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Eucalyptus
sp.
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Eugenia brasiliensis
, grumichama, Brazilian cherries.
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Eugenia uniflora
, Myrtaceae, Surinam cherry. Shrub or small tree from Brazil wit
h white flowers and edible, spicy, red, 8-furrowed fruit about 2 cm in diameter. The corolla and androecium are more or less equally conspicuous in this species.
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Loph
ostemon
confertus
, Myrtaceae, Brisbane box, brush box, vinegar tree. |
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Melaleuca quinquenervia,
paper bark. Note the conspicuous clusters of stamens in the flowers. Capsular fruits are on the right. A strip of the pape
ry bark is also visible.
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Metrosideros polymorpha
, 'ohia. Note the many brightly colored stamens in this Hawaiian endemic species.
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Metrosideros tremuloides
, lehua 'ahihi.
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Myrciaria cauliflora
, jaboticaba.
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Pimenta dioica,
allspice. This leaves of this species emit a strong but ve
ry pleasant aroma when crushed.
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Psid
ium cattleianum,
strawberry guava. This is a very common invasive tree in Hawaiian forests.
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Psidium guajava
, guava. Shrub or tree from tropical America, with yellow or brownish lemon-shaped and sized fruit, pink or cream colored inside. Used for jam, jelly and juice.
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Rhodomyrtus tomentosa
, downy or rose myrtle.
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Syzygium aromaticum
, clove.
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Syzygiu
m cumini
, Java plum, jambolan plum. Tree from E. Indies and Burma, with white flowers and purple to black, globose, edible fruit.
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Syzygium jambos,
rose apple. This is a large tree with edible fruit. Note the very dominant nature of the androecium in the open flowers.
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Syzygium malaccense
, mountain or Malay apple.
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