Myrtle

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Myrtle

Myrtus communis

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Myrtaceae
Genus:	Myrtus L.

Species

Myrtus communis L.
Myrtus nivellei Batt. & Trab.

The Myrtle (Myrtus) is a genus of one or two species of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae, native to southern Europe and north Africa. It is sacred to the Greek goddess of love, lust and beauty: Aphrodite.They are evergreen shrubs or small trees, growing to 5 m tall. The leaves are entire, 3-5 cm long, with a pleasantly fragrant essential oil. The star-like flowers have five petals and sepals, and an amazingly large number of stamens. Petals are usually white, with globose blue-black berries containing several seeds. The flowers are pollinated by insects, and the seeds dispersed by birds which feed on the berries.

The Common Myrtle Myrtus communis, is widespread in the Mediterranean region and is also by far the most commonly cultivated. The other species, Saharan Myrtle M. nivellei, is restricted to the Tassili n'Ajjer mountains in southern Algeria and the Tibesti Mountains in Chad, where it occurs in small areas of sparse relict woodland near the centre of the Sahara Desert; it is listed as an endangered species. However, some botanists are not convinced that M. nivellei is sufficiently distinct to be treated as a separate species.

[edit] Uses

It is used in the Islands of Sardinia and Corsica to produce an aromatic liqueur Called "Mirto"' by macerating it in alcohol. It is known as one of the National drinks of Sardinia.There are two varieties of this drink: the "Mirto Rosso" (Red)produced by macerating the berries, and the "Mirto Bianco" (white) produced from the leaves.

In Jewish liturgy, it is one of the four sacred plants of the Tabernacles (Sukkot) Festival, for its pleasant aroma and the leaves are held by the worshippers in the Synagogue during the prayers.

[edit] Related plants

Many other related species native to South America, New Zealand and elsewhere, previously classified in a wider interpretation of the genus Myrtus, are now treated in other genera, Eugenia, Lophomyrtus, Luma, Rhodomyrtus, Syzygium, Ugni, and at least a dozen other genera. The name "myrtle" is also used to refer to unrelated plants in several other genera: "Crepe myrtle" (Lagerstroemia, Lythraceae), "Wax myrtle" (Myrica, Myricaceae), and "Myrtle" or "Creeping myrtle" (Vinca, Apocynaceae).