''Myrsine'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family

Primulaceae The Primulaceae , commonly known as the primrose family (but not related to the evening primrose family), are a family of herbaceous and woody flowering plants including some favourite garden plants and wildflowers. Most are perennial though som ...

. It was formerly placed in the family

Myrsinaceae Myrsinoideae is a subfamily of the family Primulaceae in the order Ericales. It was formerly recognized as the family Myrsinaceae, or the myrsine family, consisting of 35 genera and about 1000 species. It is widespread in temperate to tropical c ...

before this was merged into the Primulaceae. It is found nearly worldwide, primarily in

tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...

and subtropical areas. It contains about 200 species, including several notable radiations, such as the matipo of

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 List of islands of New Zealand, smaller islands. It is the ...

and the kōlea of

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only ...

(the New Zealand "black matipo", ''

Pittosporum tenuifolium ''Pittosporum tenuifolium'' is a small evergreen tree endemic to New Zealand – up to – commonly known as and black matipo, and by other Māori names and . Its small, very dark, reddish-purple flowers generally go unnoticed, and are scented ...

'', is not related to ''Myrsine''). In the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...

, members of this genus are known as colicwood. Some species, especially '' M. africana'', are grown as ornamental shrubs. The leathery,

evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season. This also pertains to plants that retain their foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, which ...

leaves are simple and alternate, with smooth or toothed margins and without

stipule In botany, a stipule is an outgrowth typically borne on both sides (sometimes on just one side) of the base of a leafstalk (the petiole). Stipules are considered part of the anatomy of the leaf of a typical flowering plant, although in many speci ...

s. The one-seeded,

indehiscent Dehiscence is the splitting of a mature plant structure along a built-in line of weakness to release its contents. This is common among fruits, anthers and sporangia. Sometimes this involves the complete detachment of a part; structures that o ...

fruit is a thin-fleshed globose

drupe In botany, a drupe (or stone fruit) is an indehiscent fruit in which an outer fleshy part ( exocarp, or skin, and mesocarp, or flesh) surrounds a single shell (the ''pit'', ''stone'', or '' pyrena'') of hardened endocarp with a seed (''kerne ...

. The flowers and fruits often do not develop until after leaf fall and thus appear naked on the branches. The fruits often do not mature until the year after flowering. The

calyx Calyx or calyce (plural "calyces"), from the Latin ''calix'' which itself comes from the Ancient Greek ''κάλυξ'' (''kálux'') meaning "husk" or "pod", may refer to: Biology * Calyx (anatomy), collective name for several cup-like structures ...

is persistent. The Pacific basin and New World species formerly separated in the genera ''

Rapanea ''Rapanea'' is a genus of plant in family Primulaceae. It has often been placed in synonymy with ''Myrsine'', and many species have been moved to ''Myrsine''. , Plants of the World Online does not accept the genus, regarding it as a synonym of '' ...

'' and ''Suttonia'' (distinguished from the

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

n and

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, south-eastern region of Asia, consistin ...

n ''Myrsine sensu stricto'' by having the

style Style is a manner of doing or presenting things and may refer to: * Architectural style, the features that make a building or structure historically identifiable * Design, the process of creating something * Fashion, a prevailing mode of clothing ...

absent and staminal tube and filaments completely adnate to the

corolla Corolla may refer to: *Corolla (botany), the petals of a flower, considered as a unit *Toyota Corolla, an automobile model name * Corolla (headgear), an ancient headdress in the form of a circlet or crown * ''Corolla'' (gastropod), a genus of moll ...

) are now generally included in ''Myrsine''.

Hawaiian species

* '' Myrsine alyxifolia'' * ''

Myrsine denticulata ''Myrsine'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. It was formerly placed in the family Myrsinaceae before this was merged into the Primulaceae. It is found nearly worldwide, primarily in tropical and subtropical areas. It co ...

'' * ''

Myrsine fernseei ''Myrsine fernseei'', the streambank colicwood, is a species of plant in the family Primulaceae. It is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is ...

'' (Mez) Hosaka ( Kauai in Hawaii) * ''

Myrsine helleri ''Myrsine'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. It was formerly placed in the family Myrsinaceae before this was merged into the Primulaceae. It is found nearly worldwide, primarily in tropical and subtropical areas. It co ...

'' * ''

Myrsine kauaiensis ''Myrsine'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. It was formerly placed in the family Myrsinaceae before this was merged into the Primulaceae. It is found nearly worldwide, primarily in tropical and subtropical areas. It co ...

'' * ''

Myrsine knudsenii ''Myrsine knudsenii'', the Kokee colicwood, is a species of tree in the primrose family. It is endemic to the island of Kauai in Hawaii. It is threatened by habitat loss. This is a shrub or tree growing up to 4.5 meters tall with flowers occu ...

'' (Rock) Hosaka (Kauai in Hawaii) * ''

Myrsine linearifolia ''Myrsine linearifolia'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the primrose family known by the common name narrowleaf colicwood. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only from the island of Kauai. There are 12 populations remaining, fo ...

'' * ''

Myrsine mezii ''Myrsine mezii'', the Hanapepe River colicwood, is a species of tree in the primrose family. It is endemic to the island of Kauai in Hawaii. It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduc ...

'' Hosaka ( Kauai in Hawaii) * ''

Myrsine petiolata ''Myrsine petiolata'', the swamp colicwood, is a species of plant in the family Primulaceae. It is endemic to the island of Kauai in Hawaii. It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reducti ...

'' Hosaka ( Kauai in Hawaii) * ''

Myrsine wawraea ''Myrsine'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. It was formerly placed in the family Myrsinaceae before this was merged into the Primulaceae. It is found nearly worldwide, primarily in tropical and subtropical areas. It co ...

'' * '' Myrsine lanaiensis'' * ''

Myrsine lessertiana ''Myrsine lessertiana'', the ''kōlea lau nui'', is a species of colicwood that is endemic to Hawaii. It inhabits dry, coastal mesic, mixed mesic, and wet forests at elevations of on all main islands. ''M. lessertiana'' is a small to medi ...

A.DC. Alphonse Louis Pierre Pyramus (or Pyrame) de Candolle (28 October 18064 April 1893) was a French-Swiss botanist, the son of the Swiss botanist Augustin Pyramus de Candolle. Biography De Candolle, son of Augustin Pyramus de Candolle, first dev ...

– ''Kōlea lau nui'' (

) * '' Myrsine fosbergii'' Hosaka (

Oahu Oahu () ( Hawaiian: ''Oʻahu'' ()), also known as "The Gathering Place", is the third-largest of the Hawaiian Islands. It is home to roughly one million people—over two-thirds of the population of the U.S. state of Hawaii. The island of O� ...

and Kauai in Hawaii) * ''

Myrsine punctata ''Myrsine'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. It was formerly placed in the family Myrsinaceae before this was merged into the Primulaceae. It is found nearly worldwide, primarily in tropical and subtropical areas. It con ...

'' * ''

Myrsine sandwicensis ''Myrsine'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. It was formerly placed in the family Myrsinaceae before this was merged into the Primulaceae. It is found nearly worldwide, primarily in tropical and subtropical areas. It con ...

– ''Kōlea lau lii'' (Hawaii) * '' Myrsine degeneri'' Hosaka (

in Hawaii) * ''

Myrsine emarginata ''Myrsine'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. It was formerly placed in the family Myrsinaceae before this was merged into the Primulaceae. It is found nearly worldwide, primarily in tropical and subtropical areas. It con ...

'' * '' Myrsine juddii'' * '' Myrsine pukooensis'' * '' Myrsine vaccinioides''

Other selected species

* '' Myrsine adamsonii'' Fosberg &

Sachet A sachet is a small scented cloth bag filled with herbs, potpourri, or aromatic ingredients.Oster, p. 54 A sachet is also a small porous bag or packet containing a material intended to interact with its atmosphere; for example, desiccants ...

(

French Polynesia )Territorial motto: ( en, "Great Tahiti of the Golden Haze") , anthem = , song_type = Regional anthem , song = "Ia Ora 'O Tahiti Nui" , image_map = French Polynesia on the globe (French Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of French ...

) * '' Myrsine africana'' (

, Southern

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an ...

and the

Azores ) , motto= ( en, "Rather die free than subjected in peace") , anthem=( en, "Anthem of the Azores") , image_map=Locator_map_of_Azores_in_EU.svg , map_alt=Location of the Azores within the European Union , map_caption=Location of the Azores wi ...

) * ''

Myrsine andersonii ''Myrsine andersonii'' is a species of plant in the family Primulaceae. It is endemic to the Tubuai Islands of French Polynesia )Territorial motto: ( en, "Great Tahiti of the Golden Haze") , anthem = , song_type = Regional anthem , song = ...

'' Fosbert & Sachet (French Polynesia) * ''

Myrsine aquilonia ''Myrsine'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. It was formerly placed in the family Myrsinaceae before this was merged into the Primulaceae. It is found nearly worldwide, primarily in tropical and subtropical areas. It con ...

'' * '' Myrsine argentea'' * '' Myrsine australis'' – Red matipo, ''mapou'' (New Zealand) * '' Myrsine brachyclada'' * '' Myrsine brownii'' Fosbert & Sachet (French Polynesia) * '' Myrsine bullata'' Pipoly (

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

) * ''

Myrsine ceylanica ''Myrsine ceylanica'' is plant Plants are predominantly photosynthetic eukaryotes of the kingdom Plantae. Historically, the plant kingdom encompassed all living things that were not animals, and included algae and fungi; however, all cur ...

'' (Mez) Wadhwa * '' Myrsine cheesemanii'' (Mez) Hemsl. ex Prain (Cook Islands) * ''

Myrsine collina ''Myrsine collina'', synonym ''Rapanea collina'', is a species of plant in the family Primulaceae. It is endemic to the Society Islands The Society Islands (french: Îles de la Société, officially ''Archipel de la Société;'' ty, Tōtaiete ...

'' Nadeaud (

Society Islands The Society Islands (french: Îles de la Société, officially ''Archipel de la Société;'' ty, Tōtaiete mā) are an archipelago located in the South Pacific Ocean. Politically, they are part of French Polynesia, an overseas country of the F ...

) * '' Myrsine diazii'' Pipoly (

) * ''

Myrsine divaricata ''Myrsine divaricata'' known as weeping māpou or weeping matipo, is a small tree up to tall or often a shrub. It has a strongly divaricating habit with interlaced branched. The woody parts are stiff and pubescent when young. The small leather ...

'' Cunn (New Zealand) * ''

Myrsine falcata ''Myrsine falcata'' is a species of plant in the family Primulaceae. It is endemic to French Polynesia. References Endemic flora of French Polynesia falcata The falcata is a type of sword typical of pre-Roman Iberia. The falcata was us ...

'' Nadeaud (French Polynesia) * '' Myrsine fasciculata'' (J.Moore) Fosberg & Sachet (French Polynesia) * ''

Myrsine fusca ''Myrsine fusca'' is a species of plant in the family Primulaceae. It is a tree endemic to French Polynesia )Territorial motto: ( en, "Great Tahiti of the Golden Haze") , anthem = , song_type = Regional anthem , song = " Ia Ora 'O Tahiti ...

'' (J.Moore) Fosberg & Sachet (French Polynesia) * ''

Myrsine gracilissima ''Myrsine gracilissima'' is a species of plant in the family Primulaceae. It is endemic to the island of Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia )Territorial motto: ( en, "Great Tahiti of the Golden Haze") , anthem = , song_ty ...

'' Fosberg & Sachet (French Polynesia) * '' Myrsine hartii'' * '' Myrsine hosakae'' H.St.John (

Pitcairn Islands The Pitcairn Islands (; Pitkern: '), officially the Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, is a group of four volcanic islands in the southern Pacific Ocean that form the sole British Overseas Territory in the Pacific Ocean. The four i ...

) * '' Myrsine howittiana'' (

F.Muell. Baron Sir Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich von Mueller, (german: Müller; 30 June 1825 – 10 October 1896) was a German-Australian physician, geographer, and most notably, a botanist. He was appointed government botanist for the then colony of Vic ...

ex Mez) Jackes (Eastern Australia) * '' Myrsine juddii'' * '' Myrsine juergensenii'' * '' Myrsine kermadecensis'' * '' Myrsine laetevirens'' (Mez) Arechav. * ''

Myrsine niauensis ''Myrsine naiuensis'' is a species of plant in the family Primulaceae. It is endemic to the island of Niau in the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia.Myrsine nukuhivensis ''Myrsine nukuhivensis'' is a species of plant in the family Primulaceae. It is endemic to French Polynesia )Territorial motto: ( en, "Great Tahiti of the Golden Haze") , anthem = , song_type = Regional anthem , song = " Ia Ora 'O Tahiti N ...

'' Fosberg & Sachet (French Polynesia) * ''

Myrsine obovata ''Myrsine obovata'' is a species of plant in the family Primulaceae. It is endemic to the island of Raiatea, in the Society Islands of French Polynesia )Territorial motto: ( en, "Great Tahiti of the Golden Haze") , anthem = , song_type ...

'' (J.Moore) Fosberg & Sachet (French Polynesia) * '' Myrsine oliveri'' Allan (New Zealand) * ''

Myrsine orohenensis ''Myrsine orohenensis'' is a species of plant in the family Primulaceae. It is endemic to the island of Tahiti, in the Society Islands of French Polynesia )Territorial motto: ( en, "Great Tahiti of the Golden Haze") , anthem = , song_type = ...

'' (J.Moore) Fosberg & Sachet (French Polynesia) * ''

Myrsine pearcei ''Myrsine pearcei'' is a species of plant in the family Primulaceae. It is endemic to Peru. References pearcei Endemic flora of Peru Vulnerable plants Trees of Peru Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Primulaceae-stub ...

'' (Mez) Pipoly (Peru) * '' Myrsine raiateensis'' (J.Moore) Fosberg & Sachet (French Polynesia) * ''

Myrsine rapensis ''Myrsine rapensis'' is a species of plant in the family Primulaceae. It is a tree endemic to the island of Rapa Iti in the Tubuai Islands of French Polynesia )Territorial motto: ( en, "Great Tahiti of the Golden Haze") , anthem = , son ...

'' (F.Brown) Fosberg & Sachet (French Polynesia) * ''

Myrsine reynelii ''Myrsine reynelii'' is a species of plant in the family Primulaceae. It is endemic to Peru. References Trees of Peru Endemic flora of Peru reynelii Vulnerable plants Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Primulaceae-stub ...

'' Pipoly (Peru) * ''

Myrsine richmondensis ''Myrsine richmondensis'', known as the ripple leaf muttonwood or purple-leaf muttonwood, is a very rare shrub of coastal areas of New South Wales; from Coraki on the Richmond River north to Mount Warning. Description A shrub to small tree t ...

'' Jackes (Australia) * ''

Myrsine rivularis ''Myrsine rivularis'' is a species of plant in the family Primulaceae. It is endemic to Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of t ...

'' (Mez) Pipoly (Peru) * ''

Myrsine ronuiensis ''Myrsine ronuiensis'' is a species of plant in the family Primulaceae. It is a tree endemic to the Society Islands of French Polynesia )Territorial motto: ( en, "Great Tahiti of the Golden Haze") , anthem = , song_type = Regional anthem , ...

'' (M.Grant) Fosberg & Sachet (French Polynesia) * ''

Myrsine sodiroana ''Myrsine sodiroana'' is a species of plant in the family Primulaceae. It is endemic to Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, wh ...

'' (Mez) Pipoly (

Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechuan languages, Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar language, Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechuan ...

) * ''

Myrsine tahuatensis ''Myrsine tahuatensis'' is a species of plant in the family Primulaceae. It is endemic to the island of Tahuata, in the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia )Territorial motto: ( en, "Great Tahiti of the Golden Haze") , anthem = , song_ty ...

'' Fosbert & Sachet (French Polynesia) * '' Myrsine umbricola'' * ''

Myrsine variabilis ''Myrsine variabilis'', synonym ''Rapanea variabilis'', known as the muttonwood or variable muttonwood is a tree of eastern Australia. The range of natural distribution is from near Milton (35° S) in southern New South Wales to the McIlwraith Ra ...

References

Ngā Tipu Aotearoa
– Most recent taxonomy (only of NZ species).
Flora of New Zealand

External links

* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q159796 Primulaceae genera