MYRSINACEAE
NB This family is now included in Primulaceae.
Morphological description
Woody, innovations rusty-red. Sometimes climbers (Embelia, and Grenacheria); plagiotropic branches swollen at base, leaving large scars when shed (Ardisia); sometimes little branched plants with large leaves (Tapeinosperma); viviparous shrubs of the mangrove (Aegiceras); herbs (Labisia, some Ardisia).
Leaves
Leaves spiral or alternate, simple, penninerved, exstipulate. Usually leaves with coloured (often red or blackish) dots
Inflorescence
Inflorescence.
Flowers
Flower petals connate at base, contorted, stamens opposite the petals; ovary 1-locular. Usually 5-merous, hermaphroditic, calyx persistent, often with whitish margin; ovary superior, several ovules on a basal placenta. Sometimes flowers unisexual in axillary clusters (Rapanea [Myrsine]); flowers unisexual, little branched plants with large leaves (Tapeinosperma); viviparous shrubs of the mangrove (Aegiceras);
Fruit
Fruit.
Seed
Seed.
Different from: Myristicaceae: red sap, seed arillate. — Plumbaginaceae: no dots, ovary with one ovule. — Ochnaceae: no dots, stipulate.
Distribution: The family widespread in tropical and warm temperate regions. In Malesia 12 genera, found in a variety of habitats, incl.: - Ardisia (Asia and America), herbs, shrubs, treelets, mostly lowland rain forest; - Embelia (paleotropics), climbers, especially montane rain forest; - Maesa (paleotropics), shrubs and scramblers, lowland and montane, primary and secondary rain forest; - Rapanea (tropics and warm temperate parts of the world), shrubs, treelets, mostly of montane rain forest.
Notes: The family is well represented in the forest undergrowth. — Edible leaves: Embelia. — Ornamentals (potential): Ardisia, Conandrium, Labisia.
Literature: C. Mez, Myrsinaceae in Engler, Pflanzenreich 9 (1901); H. Sleumer, Blumea 31 (1986) 245-269; 32 (1987) 39-65, 385-396; 33 (1988) 81-140; B.C. Stone, Tree Fl. Mal. 4 (1989) 264-284. — Prof. C. M. Hu (JPSC) is revising the family for Flora Malesiana.
Spot characters (Van Balgooy): Myrsinaceae 59, 83, 84, 86 (not Maesa) - Ardisia 15, 20, 26, 46, 80 - Discocalyx 46, 105 - Embelia 5, 12, 15, 77 - Fittingia 95 - Loheria 105 - Maesa 5, 19, 92 - Rapanea 71, 77 - Tapeinosperma 10, 53, 105.
Illustrations: Fig. 116. Ardisia elliptica Thunb.: a. habit; b. flower; c. fruits. Fig. 117. Embelia ribes Burm. f.: a. habit; b. flower; c. fruits.
Image in PhytoImages for Myrsinaceae