Southern Myrtus, the myrtle.

Shrubs or trees. Leaves opposite, stalked. Flowers solitary or in clusters, 4 or 5-parted. Sepals persistent in fruit. Petals free. Stamens numerous, free. Ovary inferior and with 2-3 chambers, each with a few ovules. Fruit a roundish fleshy berry.

Grown for the glossy leaves, flushes of flowers and fleshy fruits.

About 40 species from Malesia to New Caledonia and Australia (19 endemic species).

Seed (sown fresh) or cuttings.

A. dulcis fruits are edible raw or in preserves.

Leaves opposite; ovary of 2 chambers; fruit fleshy.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Myrtaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.