Myrtaceae
Myrtaceae Temporal range:
| |
---|---|
Myrtus communis foliage and flowers | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Myrtales |
Family: | Myrtaceae Juss.[3] |
Genera | |
About 130; see list |
Myrtaceae (/mərˈteɪsiˌaɪ, -siːˌiː/), 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 (i.e., without a toothed margin). 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.
Evolutionary history
Scientists hypothesize that the family Myrtaceae arose between 60 and 56 million years ago (Mya) during the Paleocene era. Pollen fossils have been sourced to the ancient supercontinent Gondwana.[4] The breakup of Gondwana during the Cretaceous period (145 to 66 Mya) geographically isolated disjunct taxa and allowed for rapid speciation; in particular, genera once considered members of the now-defunct Leptospermoideae alliance are now isolated within Oceania.[5] Generally, experts agree that vicariance is responsible for the differentiation of Myrtaceae taxa, except in the cases of Leptospermum species now located on New Zealand and New Caledonia, islands which may have been submerged at the time of late Eocene differentiation.[4]
Diversity
Recent estimates suggest the Myrtaceae include about 5,950 species in about 132 genera.
Historically, the Myrtaceae were divided into two subfamilies. Subfamily Myrtoideae (about 75 genera) was recognized as having fleshy fruits and opposite, entire leaves. Most genera in this subfamily have one of three easily recognized types of embryos. The genera of Myrtoideae can be very difficult to distinguish in the absence of mature fruits. Myrtoideae are found worldwide in subtropical and tropical regions, with centers of diversity in the Neotropics, northeastern Australia, and Malesia. In contrast, subfamily Leptospermoideae (about 80 genera) was recognized as having dry, dehiscent fruits (capsules) and leaves arranged spirally or alternate. The Leptospermoideae are found mostly in Australasia, with a centre of diversity in Australia. Many genera in Western Australia have greatly reduced leaves and flowers typical of more xeric habitats.
Taxonomy
The division of the Myrtaceae into Leptospermoideae and Myrtoideae was challenged by a number of authors, including Johnson and Briggs (1984), who identified 14 tribes or clades within Myrtaceae, and found Myrtoideae to be polyphyletic.[8] Molecular studies by several groups of authors, as of 2008, have confirmed the baccate (fleshy) fruits evolved twice from capsular fruits and, as such, the two-subfamily classification does not accurately portray the phylogenetic history of the family. Thus, many workers are now using a recent analysis by Wilson et al. (2001) as a starting point for further analyses of the family. This study pronounced both Leptospermoideae and Myrtoideae invalid, but retained several smaller suballiances shown to be monophyletic through matK analysis.[9]
The genera Heteropyxis and Psiloxylon have been separated as separate families by many authors in the past as Heteropyxidaceae and Psiloxylaceae.[10][8] However, Wilson et al.[9] included them in Myrtaceae. These two genera are presently believed to be the earliest arising and surviving lineages of Myrtaceae.
The most recent classification recognizes 17 tribes and two subfamilies, Myrtoideae and Psiloxyloideae, based on a phylogenetic analysis of plastid DNA.[11]
Many new species are being described annually from throughout the range of Myrtaceae. Likewise, new genera are being described nearly yearly.
Classification
Following Wilson (2011)[12]
Subfamily
- tribe Psiloxyleae
- tribe Heteropyxideae
Subfamily
- tribe Xanthostemoneae
- tribe Lophostemoneae
- tribe Osbornieae
- tribe Melaleuceae
- tribe Kanieae
- tribe Backhousieae
- tribe Metrosidereae
- tribe Tristanieae
- tribe Syzygieae
- tribe Myrteae
- tribe Eucalypteae
- tribe Syncarpieae
- tribe Lindsayomyrteae
- tribe Leptospermeae
- tribe Chamelaucieae
Genera
127 genera are currently accepted:[13]
- Acca O.Berg
- Accara Landrum
- Actinodium S.Schauer ex Schltdl.
- Agonis (DC.) Sweet
- Algrizea Proença & NicLugh.
- Allosyncarpia S.T.Blake
- Aluta Rye & Trudgen
- Amomyrtella Kausel
- Amomyrtus (Burret) D.Legrand & Kausel
- Angophora Cav.
- Anticoryne Turcz.
- Archirhodomyrtus (Nied.) Burret
- Arillastrum Pancher ex Baill.
- Astartea DC.
- Asteromyrtus S.Schauer
- Astus Trudgen & Rye
- Austrobaeckea Rye
- Austromyrtus (Nied.) Burret
- Babingtonia Lindl.
- Backhousia Hook. & Harv.
- Baeckea L.
- Balaustion Hook.
- Barongia G.Wilson & B.Hyland
- Basisperma C.T.White
- Beaufortia R.Br. – synonym of Melaleuca
- Blepharocalyx O.Berg
- Callistemon R.Br. – synonym of Melaleuca
- Calothamnus Labill. – synonym of Melaleuca
- Calycolpus O.Berg
- Calycorectes O.Berg
- Calytrix Labill.
- Campomanesia Ruiz & Pav.
- Chamelaucium Desf.
- Chamguava Landrum
- Cheyniana Rye
- Cloezia Brongn. & Gris
- Conothamnus Lindl. – synonym of Melaleuca
- Corymbia K.D.Hill & L.A.S.Johnson
- CuritibaSalywon & Landrum
- Cyathostemon Turcz.
- Darwinia Rudge
- Decaspermum J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
- Enekbatus Trudgen & Rye
- Eremaea Lindl. – synonym of Melaleuca
- Ericomyrtus Turcz.
- Eucalyptopsis C.T.White
- Eucalyptus L'Hér.
- Eugenia P.Micheli ex L.
- Euryomyrtus S.Schauer
- FeijoaO.Berg
- Gossia N.Snow & Guymer
- Harmogia S.Schauer
- Heteropyxis Harv.
- Homalocalyx F.Muell.
- Homalospermum S.Schauer
- Homoranthus A.Cunn. ex S.Schauer
- Hypocalymma (Endl.) Endl.
- Hysterobaeckea (Nied.) Rye
- Kanakomyrtus N.Snow
- Kania Schltr.
- Kardomia Peter G.Wilson
- Kjellbergiodendron Burret
- Kunzea Rchb.
- Lamarchea Gaudich. – synonym of Melaleuca
- Legrandia Kausel
- Lenwebbia N.Snow & Guymer
- Leptospermum J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
- Lindsayomyrtus B.Hyland & Steenis
- Lithomyrtus F.Muell.
- Lophomyrtus Burret
- Lophostemon Schott
- Luma A.Gray
- Lysicarpus F.Muell.
- Malleostemon J.W.Green
- Melaleuca L.
- Metrosideros Banks ex Gaertn.
- Micromyrtus Benth.
- Mitrantia Peter G.Wilson & B.Hyland
- Mosiera Small
- Myrceugenia O.Berg
- Myrcia DC. ex Guill.
- Myrcianthes O.Berg
- Myrciaria O.Berg
- Myrrhinium Schott
- Myrtastrum Burret
- Myrtella F.Muell.
- Myrteola O.Berg
- Myrtus Tourn. ex L.
- Neofabricia Joy Thomps.
- Neomitranthes D.Legrand
- Neomyrtus Burret
- NothomyrciaKausel
- Ochrosperma Trudgen
- Octamyrtus Diels
- Osbornia F.Muell.
- Oxymyrrhine S.Schauer
- †Paleomyrtinaea[14]
- Paragonis J.R.Wheeler & N.G.Marchant – synonym of Agonis
- Pericalymma (Endl.) Endl.
- Phymatocarpus F.Muell. – synonym of Melaleuca
- Pileanthus Labill.
- Pilidiostigma Burret
- Pimenta Lindl.
- Pleurocalyptus Brogn. and Gris
- Plinia Plum. ex L.
- Psidium L.
- Psiloxylon Thouars ex Tul.
- Purpureostemon Gugerli
- Regelia S.Schauer – synonym of Melaleuca
- Rhodamnia Jack
- Rhodomyrtus (DC.) Rchb.
- Rinzia S.Schauer
- Ristantia Peter G.Wilson & J.T.Waterh.
- Sannantha Peter G.Wilson
- Scholtzia S.Schauer
- Seorsus Rye & Trudgen
- Siphoneugena O.Berg
- Sphaerantia Peter G.Wilson & B.Hyland
- Stenostegia A.R.Bean
- Stockwellia D.J.Carr, S.G.M.Carr & B.Hyland
- Syncarpia Ten.
- Syzygium Gaertn.
- Taxandria (Benth.) J.R.Wheeler & N.G.Marchant
- TemuO.Berg
- Tetrapora S.Schauer
- Thaleropia Peter G.Wilson
- Thryptomene Endl.
- Triplarina Raf.
- TristaniaR.Br.
- Tristaniopsis Brogn. & Gris
- Ugni Turcz.
- Uromyrtus Burret
- Verticordia DC.
- Welchiodendron Peter G.Wilson & J.T.Waterh.
- Whiteodendron Steenis
- Xanthomyrtus Diels
- Xanthostemon F.Muell.
Ecology
Myrtaceae is foraged by many stingless bees, especially by species such as
Weevils in the tribe Cryptoplini mostly use Myrtaceae as hosts. Their larvae can develop in flower and fruit buds, or in galls (often galls already formed by other insects).[16]
References
- ^ "Myrtales". www.mobot.org. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
- PMID 20462850.
- .
- ^ S2CID 21263153.
- S2CID 62825431.
- .
- ^ Govaerts, R. et al. (12 additional authors). 2008. World Checklist of Myrtaceae. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. xv + 455 pp.
- ^ JSTOR 2399159.
- ^ PMID 21669634.
- ^ Sytsma, Kenneth J. and Amy Litt. 2002. Tropical disjunctions in and among the Myrtaceae clade (Myrtaceae, Heteropyxidaceae, Psiloxylaceae, Vochysiaceae): Gondwanan vicariance or dispersal? (Abstract). Botany 2002 Conference, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, August 4–7, 2002.
- S2CID 23470845.
- ^ Wilson, P. G. (2011) Myrtaceae. In The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants. Volume X. Sapindales, Cucurbitales, Myrtaceae, edited by K. Kubitzki, X:212–71. Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag, 2011.
- ^ Myrtaceae Juss. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
- doi:10.1139/b93-001.
- PMID 19554765.
- ISSN 1424-2818.
External links
- Data related to Myrtaceae at Wikispecies