Uromyrtus

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iUromyrtus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Uromyrtus
Burret
Species

See text.

Uromyrtus is a genus of approximately 15-20 species in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. The greatest diversity of species are found in New Caledonia and the remainder are found in Australia, New Guinea and Malesia. Two new species were recently described from Australia, U. lamingtonensis and U. tenellus. Species of Uromyrtus from New Caledonia are currently being revised. The flowers occur singlely in the axils of the leaves and typically point downwards. In this respect the genus superficially resembles the neotropical genus Ugni, but evidence from DNA sequencing studies suggests the genera are not closely related.

One Australian species U. australis is a critically endangered and is restricted to a small location in northern New South Wales. This plant is known as the peach myrtle due to the colour and shape of its fruit.

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