Edited by Ho Dinh Hai Long An - Vietnam Updated: 02/10/2015
1- Introduction to the Family Myrtaceae
1.1- Overview The Myrtaceaeis a family, myrtle family, of dicotyledonousplants placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, pohutukawa, clove, guava, acca (feijoa), allspice, and eucalyptus belong here. All species are woody, with essential oils, and flower parts in multiples of four or five. One notable character of the family is that the phloem is located on both sides of the xylem, not just outside as in most other plants. The leaves are evergreen, alternate to mostly opposite, simple, and usually with an entire (not 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. The family has a wide distribution in tropical and warm-temperate regions of the world, and are typically common in many of the world's biodiversity hotspots. 1.2- Subfamilies Historically, the Myrtaceae were divided into two subfamilies: 1- Subfamily Myrtoideae (about 75 genera). 2- Subfamily Leptospermoideae (about 80 genera).