Myrtales

Encyclopedia : M : MY : MYR : Myrtales

The Myrtales are an order of flowering plants placed as a basal group within the rosid group of dicotyledons (not a member of eurosids I or eurosids II). The following families are typical of newer classifications:

Family Alzateaceae
Family Combretaceae
Family Crypteroniaceae
Family Heteropyxidaceae
Family Lythraceae (loosestrife and pomegranate family)
Family Melastomataceae
Family Memecylaceae
Family Myrtaceae (myrtle family)
Family Oliniaceae
Family Onagraceae (evening primrose family)
Family Penaeaceae
Family Psiloxylaceae
Family Rhynchocalycaceae
Family Vochysiaceae

The older Cronquist system gives essentially the same composition, except the Vochysiaceae are removed to the order Polygalales, and the Thymelaeaceae are included. The families Sonneratiaceae, Trapaceae, and Punicaceae are removed from the Lythraceae, while the Psioxylaceae and Heteropyxidaceae are treated within the Myrtaceae, and the Memecyclaceae within the Melastomataceae.

References

Conti, E., Erikkson, T., Schonenberger, J., Sytsma, K. J., & Baum, D. A. (2002). Early Tertiary Out-of-India Dispersal of Crypteroniaceae: Evidence from Phylogeny and Molecular Dating. Evolution 56 (10): 1931–1942
Schönenberger, J. & Conti, E. (2003). Molecular phylogeny and floral evolution of Penaeaceae, Oliniaceae, Rhynchocalycaceae, and Alzateaceae (Myrtales). American Journal of Botany 90: 293–309.

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