''Austromyrtus'' is a genus of

shrub A shrub or bush is a small to medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees by their multiple ...

s in the myrtle family

Myrtaceae Myrtaceae (), 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 ...

. The genus was first described in 1893 by

Franz Josef Niedenzu Franz Josef Niedenzu (29 November 1857 – 30 September 1937) was a German botanist born in Köppernig. He is remembered for his work with the botanical family Malpighiaceae. For most of his career he was a professor and subsequently rector ...

as a section of ''Myrtus'', but in 1941 it was elevated to a genus by

Max Burret Karl Ewald Maximilian Burret, commonly known as Max Burret (6 June 1883 – 19 September 1964) was a German botanist. Burret was born in Saffig near Andernach in the Kingdom of Prussia, Prussian Rhine Province. He originally studied law at L ...

. Three species are found along the east coast of

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

Queensland Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...

and in

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

, and '' A. mendute'' is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

New Caledonia New Caledonia ( ; ) is a group of islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean, southwest of Vanuatu and east of Australia. Located from Metropolitan France, it forms a Overseas France#Sui generis collectivity, ''sui generis'' collectivity of t ...

. The fruits of ''A. dulcis'' have a hint of cinnamon flavouring. The species under this generic name in New Caledonia are being taxonomically revised and will be transferred to another genus. Many species formerly classified in ''Austromyrtus'' are now placed in the genera ''

Gossia ''Gossia'' is a genus of rainforest trees in the Myrtaceae, myrtle family first described as a genus in 2003 by Neil Wilton Snow, Neil Snow and Gordon P. Guymer, Gordon Guymer. It is native to northeastern Australia (Queensland and New South Wal ...

'' and ''

Lenwebbia ''Lenwebbia'' is a genus of shrubs or small trees in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. The type species is '' Lenwebbia lasioclada''. The genus is named to honour the Australian plant ecologist Dr. Leonard Webb. The genus occurs in mesic forests a ...

''. The species formerly known as ''Austromyrtus lasioclada'', which is common in northern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland, is now known as '' Lenwebbia lasioclada''. The former ''A. lotoides'' is now named ''

Eugenia lotoides ''Eugenia lotoides'' is a species of plant in the family Myrtaceae. It is a shrub or tree endemic to New Caledonia. It is endemic to the New Caledonia dry forests, including coastal and calcareous forests, on the western side of Grande Terre. It ...

''. Four species are accepted. *''

Austromyrtus dulcis ''Austromyrtus dulcis'' is a species of plant native to eastern Australia. It grows as a small spreading shrub and is easily recognised by its characteristic berries that usually ripen in summer and autumn. Common names include the midgen berry, ...

'' *''

Austromyrtus glabra ''Austromyrtus glabra'' is a species of plant in the Myrtaceae family that is native to south-east Queensland. ''Austromyrtus glabra'' grows to a height of . Leaves are opposite, aromatic when crushed, long and do not have hairs on the underside ...

'' *''

Austromyrtus mendute ''Austromyrtus'' is a genus of shrubs in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. The genus was first described in 1893 by Franz Josef Niedenzu as a section of ''Myrtus'', but in 1941 it was elevated to a genus by Max Burret. Three species are found along t ...

'' *''

Austromyrtus tenuifolia ''Austromyrtus tenuifolia'' or the narrow-leaf myrtle is a species of plant belonging to the Myrtaceae family that is native to the Sydney area in eastern Australia. The habitat that it prefers is sheltered, damp situations, often found growing ...

References

Myrtaceae genera Taxa described in 1941 {{Myrtaceae-stub