{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}} {{Automatic taxobox |image = Myrsine alyxifolia5.jpg |image_caption = ''Myrsine alyxifolia'' |taxon = Myrsine |authority = L. |subdivision_ranks = Species |subdivision = 283 – see List of ''Myrsine'' species |subdivision_ref = <ref name = powo/> |synonyms = *''Anamtia'' {{small|Koidz. (1923)}} *''Athruphyllum'' {{small|Lour. (1790)}} *''Caballeria'' {{small|Ruiz & Pav. (1794)}} *''Duhamelia'' {{small|Dombey ex Lam. (1783)}} *''Fialaris'' {{small|Raf. (1838)}} *''Heurlinia'' {{small|Raf. (1838)}} *''Hunsteinia'' {{small|Lauterb. (1918)}} *''Manglilla'' {{small|Juss. (1789)}} *''Merista'' {{small|Banks & Sol. ex A.Cunn. (1839)}} *''Pilogyne'' {{small|Gagnep. (1948), nom. illeg.}} *''Plotia'' {{small|Adans. in Fam. Pl. 2: 226 (1763)}} *''Rapanea'' {{small|Aubl. in Hist. Pl. Guiane: 121 (1775)}} *''Scleroxylum'' {{small|Willd. (1809)}} *''Suttonia'' {{small|A.Rich. (1832)}} |synonyms_ref = <ref name = powo/> }}
'''''Myrsine''''' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. It was formerly placed in the family Myrsinaceae before this was merged into the Primulaceae.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Angiosperm Phylogeny Group III |year=2009 |title=An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG III |journal=Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society |volume=161 |issue=2 |pages=105–121 |doi=10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00996.x |doi-access=free |hdl=10654/18083 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> It is found nearly worldwide, primarily in tropical and subtropical areas. It contains over 280 species,<ref name = powo/> including several notable radiations, such as the '''matipo''' of New Zealand and the '''kōlea''' of Hawai{{okina}}i (the New Zealand "black matipo", ''Pittosporum tenuifolium'', is not related to ''Myrsine''). In the United States, members of this genus are known as '''colicwood'''. Some species, especially ''M. africana'', are grown as ornamental shrubs.
The leathery, evergreen leaves are simple and alternate, with smooth or toothed margins and without stipules. The one-seeded, indehiscent fruit is a thin-fleshed globose drupe. The flowers and fruits often do not develop until after leaf fall and thus appear naked on the branches. The fruits often do not mature until the year after flowering. The calyx is persistent.
The Pacific basin and New World species formerly separated in the genera ''Rapanea'' and ''Suttonia'' (distinguished from the African and Southeast Asian ''Myrsine sensu stricto'' by having the style absent and staminal tube and filaments completely adnate to the corolla) are now generally included in ''Myrsine''.<ref name="wagner">{{cite book|year=1999|title=Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii|location=Honolulu|publisher=University of Hawaii Press|page=934|author1=Wagner, W. L. |author2=D. R. Herbst |author3=S. H. Sohmer |name-list-style=amp }}</ref>
==Selected species== {{main|List of Myrsine species}} <!-- no redlinks in this arbitrary list please --> * ''Myrsine adamsonii'' <small>Fosberg & Sachet</small> (French Polynesia) * ''Myrsine africana'' <small>L.</small> (Africa, Southern Asia and the Azores) * ''Myrsine andersonii'' <small>Fosbert & Sachet</small> (French Polynesia) * ''Myrsine australis'' – Red matipo, ''mapou'' (New Zealand) * ''Myrsine brownii'' <small>Fosbert & Sachet</small> (French Polynesia) * ''Myrsine bullata'' <small>Pipoly</small> (Peru) * ''Myrsine ceylanica'' <small>(Mez) Wadhwa</small> (Sri Lanka) * ''Myrsine cheesemanii'' <small>(Mez) Hemsl. ex Prain</small> (Cook Islands) * ''Myrsine collina'' <small>Nadeaud</small> (Society Islands) * ''Myrsine degeneri'' {{small|Hosaka}} (O{{okina}}ahu in Hawai{{okina}}i) * ''Myrsine diazii'' <small>Pipoly</small> (Peru) * ''Myrsine divaricata'' <small>Cunn</small> (New Zealand) * ''Myrsine falcata'' <small>Nadeaud</small> (French Polynesia) * ''Myrsine fasciculata'' <small>(J.Moore) Fosberg & Sachet</small> (French Polynesia) * ''Myrsine fernseei'' <small>(Mez) Hosaka</small> (Kaua{{okina}}i in Hawai{{okina}}i) * ''Myrsine fosbergii'' <small>Hosaka</small> (O{{okina}}ahu and Kaua{{okina}}i in Hawai{{okina}}i) * ''Myrsine fusca'' <small>(J.Moore) Fosberg & Sachet</small> (French Polynesia) * ''Myrsine gracilissima'' <small>Fosberg & Sachet</small> (French Polynesia) * ''Myrsine hartii'' <small>(M.L.Grant) Fosberg & Sachet</small> (Society Islands) * ''Myrsine hosakae'' <small>H.St.John</small> (Pitcairn Islands) * ''Myrsine howittiana'' <small>(F.Muell. ex Mez) Jackes</small> (Eastern Australia) * ''Myrsine juddii'' {{small|Hosaka}} * ''Myrsine juergensenii'' {{small|(Mez) Ricketson & Pipoly}} (Mexico and Central America) * ''Myrsine kermadecensis'' <small>Cheeseman</small> (Kermadec Islands) * ''Myrsine knudsenii'' <small>(Rock) Hosaka</small> (Kaua{{okina}}i in Hawai{{okina}}i) * ''Myrsine lessertiana'' <small>A.DC.</small> – ''Kōlea lau nui'' (Hawai{{okina}}i) * ''Myrsine linearifolia'' {{small|Hosaka}} * ''Myrsine longifolia'' {{small|Nadeaud}} (Tahiti) * ''Myrsine mccomishii'' {{small|(Sprague) Jackes}} (Lord Howe Island) * ''Myrsine melanophloeos'' {{small|(L.) R.Br. ex Sweet}} (sub-Saharan Africa) * ''Myrsine mezii'' <small>Hosaka</small> (Kaua{{okina}}i in Hawai{{okina}}i) * ''Myrsine myrtillina'' {{small|(Mez) Jackes}} (Lord Howe Island) * ''Myrsine niauensis'' <small>Fosberg & Sachet</small> (French Polynesia) * ''Myrsine nukuhivensis'' <small>Fosberg & Sachet</small> (French Polynesia) * ''Myrsine obovata'' <small>(J.Moore) Fosberg & Sachet</small> (French Polynesia) * ''Myrsine oliveri'' <small>Allan</small> (New Zealand) * ''Myrsine orohenensis'' <small>(J.Moore) Fosberg & Sachet</small> (French Polynesia) * ''Myrsine pearcei'' <small>(Mez) Pipoly</small> (Peru) * ''Myrsine perakensis'' {{small|King & Gamble}} (Peninsular Malaysia) * ''Myrsine petiolata'' <small>Hosaka</small> (Kaua{{okina}}i in Hawai{{okina}}i) * ''Myrsine platystigma'' {{small|F.Muell.}} (Lord Howe Island) * ''Myrsine raiateensis'' <small>(J.Moore) Fosberg & Sachet</small> (French Polynesia) * ''Myrsine rapensis'' <small>(F.Brown) Fosberg & Sachet</small> (French Polynesia) * ''Myrsine reynelii'' <small>Pipoly</small> (Peru) * ''Myrsine richmondensis'' <small>Jackes</small> (Australia) * ''Myrsine rivularis'' <small>(Mez) Pipoly</small> (Peru) * ''Myrsine ronuiensis'' <small>(M.Grant) Fosberg & Sachet</small> (French Polynesia) * ''Myrsine salicina'' {{small|(Hook.f.) Heward ex Hook.f.}} (New Zealand) * ''Myrsine seychellarum'' {{small|(Mez) Ricketson & Pipoly}} (Seychelles) * ''Myrsine sodiroana'' <small>(Mez) Pipoly</small> (Ecuador) * ''Myrsine striata'' {{small|(Mez) Ricketson & Pipoly}} (southwestern India) * ''Myrsine tahuatensis'' <small>Fosbert & Sachet</small> (French Polynesia) * ''Myrsine variabilis'' <small>R.Br.</small> (eastern Australia)
==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="powo">{{cite web |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:27339-1 |title=''Myrsine'' L. |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |year=2025 |access-date=19 August 2025}}</ref> }}
==External links== {{Commons category}} {{Wikispecies}} * [http://nzflora.landcareresearch.co.nz/default.aspx?selected=NameDetails&TabNum=0&NameId=6616B018-473E-4B09-82B2-CF18E7E640CD Ngā Tipu Aotearoa] – Most recent taxonomy (only of NZ species) * [http://floraseries.landcareresearch.co.nz/pages/taxon.aspx?id=_1928e390-214c-434d-b664-847b3227250a Flora of New Zealand]
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Category:Myrsine Category:Primulaceae genera Category:Pantropical flora