Myrtales (weeds)

Eudicotyledons • all weeds • pests-diseases-weeds

Melaleuca quinquenervia (click on image to enlarge it)
Author(s):Forest & Kim Starr
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Myrtales

The order of Myrtales contains more than 1,000 species of plants which may be herbs, shrubs or trees. Woody species often have a flaky bark and the leaves are opposite with entire margins. The groups includes many useful plants like fruit trees (e.g.pomegranate), forest trees (e.g. eucalpts), spices and ornamentals. However, the order also contains important weeds and invasive plants like purple loosestrife (Lythraceae) or the Australian broad-leaved paperbark tree (Myrtaceae).

The group includes the following weed families:

• Lythraceae (loosestrife family) (7 species)
• Melastomataceae (melastome family) (2 species)
• Myrtaceae (myrtle family) (2 species)
• Onagraceae (evening primrose family) (9 species)