Myrsinaceae - Myrsine family

Trees or shrubs. Leaves simple, alternate or clustered at branch ends, with translucent gland dots or dashes or glandular-hairy. Stipules 0. Inflorescences lateral, of various types. Flowers usually individually inconspicuous, bisexual or unisexual (plants dioecious), actinomorphic, 4- or 5-merous. Calyx often with dark spots. Petals usually white or pink, often with dark dots or stripes. Stamens as many as and opposite to the petals. Ovary superior or (Maesa) semi-inferior, 1-locular. Fruit an indehiscent berry or drupe, 1-seeded or (Maesa) many-seeded.

Comment: Myrsinaceae is sometimes placed within the Primulaceae and Maesa is sometimes put in a separate family, the Maesaceae.

Worldwide: 33 genera and 1225 species, occurring particularly in tropical and warm areas, but with a few temperate Old World species.

Zambia: 4 genera and 6 taxa.