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Genus Gossia Family Myrtaceae

Description: Erect multistemmed shrubs to large trees; bark texture and colour variable on main stem, branchlets rounded, compressed or 4-angled.

Leaves usually opposite, petiolate.

Inflorescence a single flower, or raceme-like or panicle-like. Flowers 4- or 5-merous. Hypanthium not extending beyond the ovary summit. Sepals mostly persistent in fruit and held above the body of the fruit. Petals free. Stamens numerous, free. Ovary inferior, 2-locular; ovules few to many in each loculus; placentation axile; stigma small.

Fruit a soft berry, yellow-orange or reddish, or more usually dark purple to black at maturity; seeds usually 2–10, not obviously arranged in rows, testa bony to leathery; embryo curved, cotyledons small.


Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 35 spp., Malesia to N.Cal., Fiji, Aust. Aust.: c. 16 spp. (endemic), Qld, N.S.W.

Text by Peter G. Wilson
Taxon concept:

 Key to the species 
1Flowers predominantly 5-merous; mature fruit black.2
Flowers 4-merous; fruit yellow to orange.Gossia fragrantissima
2Bark smooth; leaves mostly ovate or broad-elliptic, apex acute or acuminate with a fine point.3
Bark more or less rough; leaves mostly elliptic, apex acuminate with a rounded apex.
                       Back to 1
4
3Oil glands on upper leaf surface densely crowded, readily visible; sepals petaloid.Gossia bidwillii
Oil glands on upper leaf not crowded; sepals not petaloid.
                       Back to 2
Gossia acmenoides
4Leaves lacking conspicuous oil glands on lower surface; flowers hairy.Gossia hillii
Leaves with conspicuous oil glands on lower surface; flowers very finely pubescent to glabrous.
                       Back to 2
Gossia punctata

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