''Baeckea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, all but one endemism, endemic to Australia. Plants in the genus ''Baeckea'' are shrubs or small trees with leaves arranged in opposite pairs, white to deep pink flowers with five sepals and five petals, and five to fifteen stamens that are shorter than the petals.

Description

Plants in the genus ''Baeckea'' are wikt:glabrous, glabrous shrubs, sometimes small trees, usually with the leaves arranged in opposite pairs or Decussation, decussate. The flowers are usually arranged singly in leaf axils on a Pedicel (botany), pedicel with two Bract#Bracteole, bracteoles at the base but that sometimes fall off as the flower opens. There are five sepals and five white to deep pink , more or less round petals that are free from each other. Five to fifteen stamens are arranged in a single row and are shorter that the petals and open by parallel slits. The fruit is a Capsule (botany), capsule containing many seeds.''Baeckia''.
Flora of China.

Distribution and habitat

Species in the genus ''Baeckea'' are endemic to Australia, apart from ''Baeckea frutescens, B. frutescens'' that also occurs in Malesia.

Taxonomy

The genus ''Baeckea'' was first formally described in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in his ''Species Plantarum''. The genus is named in honor of the Swedish physician Abraham Bäck (or Baeck) (1713–1795).Genaust, H. (1976). ''Etymologisches Wörterbuch der botanischen Pflanzennamen'' Many species formerly placed in the genus are currently included in the genera ''Balaustion'', ''Euryomyrtus'', ''Harmogia'', ''Kardomia'', ''Oxymyrrhine'', ''Rinzia'', ''Sannantha'', ''Seorsus'' and ''Triplarina''. The closest genera to ''Baeckea'' are the fleshy-fruited ''Myrcianthes'' and ''Acmena'', and the dry-fruited ''Angophora'' and ''Backhousia''.

Species

The following species are recognised in the genus ''Baeckea'': *''Baeckea brevifolia'' (Rinzia polystemonea, Rudge) DC. (N.S.W.) *''Baeckea diosmifolia'' Rudge – fringed baeckea (Qld., N.S.W.) *''Baeckea elderiana'' Pritz. (W.A.) *''Baeckea frutescens'' L. (S.E. Asia, New Guinea, Qld., N.S.W.) *''Baeckea gunniana'' Sebastian Schauer, S.Schauer ex Walp. – alpine baeckea (N.S.W., Vic., Tas.) *''Baeckea imbricata'' (Gaertn.) George Claridge Druce, Druce – heath myrtle (Qld., N.S.W.) *''Baeckea kandos'' A.R.Bean (N.S.W.) *''Baeckea latifolia'' (Benth.) A.R.Bean (N.S.W., Vic.) *''Baeckea leptocaulis'' Hook.f. (Tas.) *''Baeckea leptophylla'' (Turcz.) Domin (W.A.) *''Baeckea linifolia'' Rudge – swamp baeckea, weeping baeckea, flax-leaf heath myrtle (Qld., N.S.W., Vic.) *''Baeckea muricata'' C.A.Gardner (W.A.) *''Baeckea omissa'' A.R.Bean (Qld., N.S.W.) *''Baeckea pentagonantha'' F.Muell. (W.A.) *''Baeckea robusta'' F.Muell. (W.A.) *''Baeckea staminosa'' Pritz. (W.A.) *''Baeckea subcuneata'' F.Muell. (W.A.) *''Baeckea trapeza'' A.R.Bean (Qld.) *''Baeckea utilis'' F.Muell. ex Miq. – mountain baeckea (N.S.W., A.C.T., Vic.)

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q137714 Baeckea, Myrtaceae genera Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus