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Myrtle family
Myrtaceae
フトモモ科
A large family including Eucalyptus, guava, Syzygium, and feijoa. Over 5,500 species in about 131 genera are distributed from the tropics to temperate regions of the Southern Hemisphere. Characterized by leaves with translucent oil glands and flowers with numerous clustered stamens.
Key Characteristics
- ●Translucent oil glands scattered throughout the leaves
- ●Numerous stamens (often over 100) that are conspicuous
- ●Leaves opposite, entire-margined, and coriaceous
- ●Fruits diverse: berries, drupes, or capsules
Morphological Traits
A family may include species with different trait values — multiple values indicate the range within the family.
Leaf arrangement
Alternate / Opposite / Whorled
Leaf type
Simple
Venation
Parallel / Pinnate
Leaf margin
Entire
Growth form
Shrub / Tree
Evergreen/Deciduous
Evergreen / Deciduous
Leaf dissection
Undivided
Stipules
Present / Absent
Aromatic
Aromatic
Flower symmetry
Actinomorphic
Petal count
4 petals / 5 petals / 6 petals / Many
Petal fusion
Fused
Ovary position
Inferior / Half-inferior
Stamen count
3-4
Plant sex
Dioecious / Hermaphrodite / Monoecious
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Eudicots > Core eudicots > Myrtales > Myrtaceae
Divergence Era
Late Cretaceous to Paleogene (approx. 80–70 million years ago)
Representative Genera
Related Evolution Events
- ・Adaptation of Eucalyptus to arid conditions and wildfires (epicormic resprouting and fire resistance)
- ・Diversification of essential oils (terpenoids) for insect defense and antimicrobial activity
Plants in Myrtle family on this site
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