[Greek rhodon, rose or red, and genus Myrtus, alluding to flower color]

Leslie R. Landrum

Myrtus Linnaeus sect. Rhodomyrtus de Candolle in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 3: 240. 1828

Shrubs or trees, pubescent, hairs simple. Leaves opposite; blade venation brochidodromous to acrodromous. Inflorescences 1- or 3[–7]-flowered, axillary, solitary flowers or dichasia. Flowers 4- or 5(–7)-merous, pedicellate; hypanthium campanulate; calyx lobes persistent, distinct; petals pink or red [whitish]; stamens ca. 150; ovary [1–]3 [or 4]-locular (false septae causing ovary to appear to have 2 times number of locules in fruit); placenta axile or parietal; ovules 16–20 per locule. Fruits berries, purplish black, subglobose, ellipsoidal, or elongate-cylindrical. Seeds usually 20+, reniform, in compact, stacklike rows, each seed surrounded by false, longitudinal and horizontal septae; seed coat hardened but porous; embryo C-shaped; cotyledons linear, shorter than hypocotyl.

Species ca. 11 (1 in the flora): introduced, Florida; s, se Asia (Borneo, Celebes Islands, India, Java, Lesser Sunda Islands, Malaya, Moluccas, New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Sumatra), Pacific Islands (New Caledonia, Philippines), e Australia.

SELECTED REFERENCE Scott, A. J. 1978c. A revision of Rhodomyrtus (Myrtaceae). Kew Bull. 33: 311–329.

Lower Taxa

• Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Aiton) Hasskarl
• Rhodomyrtus tomentosa var. tomentosa