Myrtle Family (Myrtaceae)

The Myrtle family is a large, cosmopolitan family of plants with over 5000 species worldwide.  The family is well represented in Australia with over 70 genera and over 1500 species. The family includes many well-known native genera including Angophora, Corymbia, Callistemon (bottlebrushes), Eucalyptus, Melaleuca (paperbarks and honey myrtles) and Syzygium (lily-pillies).  Members of the family can be found naturally in all states and territories.

In Australia, members of the family can be found in a wide range of habitats and climatic zones – coastal heaths, temperate forests and woodlands, tropical rainforests – even arid and alpine zones.