Lophomyrtus

Lophomyrtus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Myrtaceae
Subfamily:	Myrtoideae
Tribe:	Myrteae
Genus:	Lophomyrtus; Burret
Type species
	Lophomyrtus bullata;

Clade:Tracheophytes

Clade:Angiosperms

Clade:Eudicots

Clade:Rosids

Lophomyrtus is a genus of the myrtle family described as a genus in 1941.^[1]^[2] The entire genus is endemic to New Zealand.^[3] It consists of evergreen shrubs or trees, noted for their colorful leaves, which are purple, chocolate, red or bronze-green. There are also a number of cultivars. Planting in full sun aids the leaf color to develop. In cool climates, the plant may need to be placed in a sheltered area. They will also grow in semi shade. This genus is closely related to the Australian Lenwebbia which also has four petals and similar though less colourful leaves.

[1]

[2]

[3]

Image	Scientific name	Common name	Description	Distribution
	Lophomyrtus bullata	Ramarama	Evergreen shrub or small tree up to 5 m (16 ft) tall.It has glossy, heavily puckered (bullate) leaves and small creamy white flowers in summer that are followed by small, fleshy fruits that mature to a black-red shade. 'Maitai Bay' is a cultivar with especially showy red-brown foliage.	North Island of New Zealand and in the north of the South Island.
	Lophomyrtus obcordata	Rōhutu	Grows to around 8 m (26 ft) tall but is more tree-like in form. It has very small inversely heart-shaped (petiole at the pointed end) leaves and produces clusters of tiny white flowers in summer that are followed by small dark red to purple-red berries. The cultivars 'Dainty' and 'Microphylla' have pink-tinted leaves.	It occurs throughout New Zealand except for much of Southland.

Lophomyrtus

Hybrids

References

Related Articles