Myrtus communis

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Myrtus communis
Myrtus communis L. subsp. communis - 52505075873.png
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Myrtus
Species:
M. communis
Binomial name
Myrtus communis
L.
Synonyms [1]
List
    • Myrtus acutaMill.
    • Myrtus acutifolia(L.) Sennen & Teodoro
    • Myrtus angustifoliaRaf. nom. illeg.
    • Myrtus augustiniSennen & Teodoro
    • Myrtus aurantiifoliaGrimwood nom. illeg.
    • Myrtus baetica(L.) Mill.
    • Myrtus bauiSennen & Teodoro
    • Myrtus belgica(L.) Mill.
    • Myrtus borbonisSennen
    • Myrtus briquetii(Sennen & Teodoro) Sennen & Teodoro
    • Myrtus christinae(Sennen & Teodoro) Sennen & Teodoro
    • Myrtus eusebii(Sennen & Teodoro) Sennen & Teodoro
    • Myrtus gervasii(Sennen & Teodoro) Sennen & Teodoro
    • Myrtus italicaMill.
    • Myrtus josephiSennen & Teodoro
    • Myrtus lanceolataRaf. nom. illeg.
    • Myrtus latifoliaRaf. nom. illeg.
    • Myrtus littoralisSalisb.
    • Myrtus macrophyllaJ.St.-Hil.
    • Myrtus majorGarsault nom. inval.
    • Myrtus mediaHoffmanns.
    • Myrtus microphyllaJ.St.-Hil.
    • Myrtus minimaMill.
    • Myrtus minorGarsault nom. inval.
    • Myrtus mirifoliaSennen & Teodoro
    • Myrtus oerstedeanaO.Berg
    • Myrtus petri-ludovici(Sennen & Teodoro) Sennen & Teodoro
    • Myrtus rodesiSennen & Teodoro
    • Myrtus romana(L.) Hoffmanns.
    • Myrtus romanifoliaJ.St.-Hil.
    • Myrtus sparsifoliaO.Berg
    • Myrtus theodoriSennen
    • Myrtus venerisBubani
    • Myrtus vidalii(Sennen & Teodoro) Sennen & Teodoro

Myrtus communis, the common myrtle or true myrtle, is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. It is an evergreen shrub native to southern Europe, North Africa, Western Asia, Macaronesia, and the Indian Subcontinent, and also cultivated. [2]

The plant is an evergreen shrub or small tree, growing to 5 metres (16 ft) tall. [3] The leaves are 2–5 centimetres (1–2 in) long, with a fragrant essential oil. [3]

The flowers are white or tinged with pink, with five petals and many stamens that protrude from the flower. [3] The fruit is an edible berry, blue-black when ripe. [3]

The essential oils derived from this plant have anti-proliferative and anti-quorum sensing properties, helping against food spoilage. [4] The berries are also macerated in alcohol to make Mirto liqueur.

This species [5] and the more compact M. communis subsp. tarentina [6] have won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. [7] They are hardy but prefer a sheltered position in full sun.

The plant can be propagated with seeds stratified for 3 months. [8] Also, one can use a cutting with a short heel (small part of the bark), keeping it in moistened rooting mix. [9]

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References

  1. The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species , retrieved 13 August 2016
  2. USDA GRIN Taxonomy , retrieved 13 August 2016
  3. 1 2 3 4 Cretan Flora: An illustrated guide to the flora of Crete , retrieved 13 August 2016
  4. Myszka, Kamila; Sobieszczańska, Natalia; Olejnik, Anna; Majcher, Małgorzata; Szwengiel, Artur; Wolko, Łukasz; Juzwa, Wojciech (June 2020). "Studies on the anti-proliferative and anti-quorum sensing potentials of Myrtus communis L. essential oil for the improved microbial stability of salmon-based products". LWT. 127: 109380. doi: 10.1016/j.lwt.2020.109380 .
  5. "RHS Plantfinder – Myrtus communis" . Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  6. "RHS Plantfinder – Myrtus communis subsp. tarentina" . Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  7. "AGM Plants – Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 64. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  8. http://www.lebanon-flora.org/docs/germination/myrtus_communis.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  9. "RNZIH - Plant Doctor - Myrtle cuttings".