Micromyrtus

Summary

Micromyrtus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to Australia. Plants in the genus Micromyrtus are shrubs with simple leaves arranged in opposite pairs, and white, pink or yellow flowers arranged in upper leaf axils, the flowers with five sepals five petals and five or ten stamens.

Micromyrtus
Micromyrtus leptocalyx
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Tribe: Chamelaucieae
Genus: Micromyrtus
Benth.[1]
Synonyms[1]

Thryptomene sect. Micromyrtus (Benth.) F.Muell.

Description edit

Plants in the genus Micromyrtus are shrubs typically less than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) high. They have crowded, overlapping, simple leaves arranged in opposite pairs, oblong to lance-shaped and usually less than 3 mm (0.12 in) long. The flowers are arranged singly or in groups of up to three on a common peduncle, often forming clusters on the ends of branches. The flowers usually have five, (rarely six) small sepals and five (rarely six) white, pink or yellow, elliptic to round petals that are free from each other, and five or ten (rarely six or twelve) stamens. The fruit is a small, dry, indehiscent nut, usually containing a single seed.[2][3][4][5][6]

Taxonomy edit

The genus Micromyrtus was first formally described in 1865 by George Bentham in Genera Plantarum.[7][8] The name Micromyrtus means "small myrtle".[9]

Species list edit

The following names of species of Micromyrtus are accepted by Plants of the World Online and the Australian Plant Census as of August 2023:[10][11]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Micromyrtus". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  2. ^ Jeanes, Jeff A.; Stajsic, Val. "Micromyrtus". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  3. ^ Wilson, Peter G. "Genus Micromyrtus". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Micromyrtus". State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Micromyrtus". Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Micromyrtus". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  7. ^ "Micromyrtus". APNI. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  8. ^ Bentham, George (1865). Genera plantarum :ad exemplaria imprimis in Herberiis Kewensibus servata definita. London: A. Black. p. 700. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  9. ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 96. ISBN 9780958034180.
  10. ^ "Micromyrtus". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  11. ^ "Micromyrtus". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 30 August 2023.