The
Myrtales is "wood anatomically a fairly closely knit assemblage" with the "high probability of parallel specialization lines in individual families" (van Vliet & Baas, 1984: 794).
Vestured pits: a diagnostic character in the secondary xylem of
Myrtales.
Pollen characters in relation to the delimitation of
Myrtales.
Of the Angiospermae, Poales exhibited the highest number of taxa (40), followed by Alismatales (17),
Myrtales and Lamiales (12 species each).
Myrtales, Geraniales, Fabales, and, to some extent, malvids are most conspicuous for monosymmetric flowers, with a peak of elaboration in Fabales.
Asymmetry based on modification of elaborate monosymmetry is present in some monocots (among Asparagales, Commelinales, and Zingiberales), some rosids (among
Myrtales, and Fabales), and some asterids (among Lamiales, Asterales, and Dipsacales), and asymmetry by different anther height in otherwise polysymmetric, tubular flowers appears restricted to asterids (some Ericales, Gentianales, and Solanales).
Unequivocal in the sense of synapomorphy is this statement by van Vliet and Baas (1984): "Ideally one would like to construct a phylogenetic system for the
Myrtales, based on the occurrence of shared, uniquely derived specializations" (p.
5, 24, 115, 234]
MYRTALES Combretaceae Lumnitzera racemosa Willd.
been placed in the
Myrtales, alongside Onagraceae (Emberger, 1960;
Circumscription of
Myrtales and their relationships to other rosids: Evidence from rbcL sequence data.
It was unexpected to find a family with highly elaborated, strongly monosymmetric, or even asymmetric flowers that have a spur in
Myrtales and, even more, as sister to Myrtaceae s.
This work was to begin with volume 5, on
Myrtales, and he himself was to write an account of the wood of Thymelaeaceae, now included in the Malvales (Alverson et al.
