Myrsine L.

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Credits

Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

Recommended citation
'Myrsine' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/myrsine/). Accessed 2026-01-24.

Family

Primulaceae

Species in genus

Glossary

drupe: A fleshy dehiscent or indehiscent fruit with one to several seeds each enclosed in a hard endocarp (the stone).
unisexual: Having only male or female organs in a flower.

References

There are no active references in this article.

Credits

Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

Recommended citation
'Myrsine' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/myrsine/). Accessed 2026-01-24.

Myrsine africana has developed into a large shrub in the favourable conditions of Ventnor Botanic Garden, Isle of Wight, UK. 5 November 2023. Image Tom Christian.

Editorial Note

The former Myrsinaceae, consisting of mainly tropical woody species, but also the hardy Ardisia and Myrsine, has been placed within Primulaceae (subfam. Myrsinoideae) (APG 2009).

This genus consists of some 200 species of trees and shrubs. The flowers are usually small, or even minute and inconspicuous, often unisexual. Fruit a pea-like drupe, one-seeded and either dry or rather fleshy. The parts of the flower are mostly in fours or fives. The New Zealand species, including two of the following, were formerly put in a separate genus – Rapanea.

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