MYRTUS COMMUNIS ssp. COMMUNIS

Family:- MYRTACEAE

Common Names:- Myrtle

Synonyms:- Myrtus acuta, Myrtus belgica, Myrtus boetica, Myrtus italica,

Myrtus littoralis, Myrtus veneris.

Meaning:- Myrtus (Gr) The Greek name for myrtle.

Communis (L) Growing in clumps, common.

General description:- An erect, much-branched, evergreen shrub to 5m, though

often less; twigs glandular-hairy when young.

Leaves:- Opposite, simple, lance-shaped to oval, dark shining green, from 2 to

5cm length, pointed, tough, aromatic, persistent, almost stalkless, provided with

internal glands containing an essential oil.

Flower:- White or pinkish, from 20-30mm diam., solitary at the axil of the leaves,

long stalked. Corolla with 5 free, rounded petals. Calyx with 5 partly fused sepals,

in the shape of triangle. Stamens numerous and protruding. Only one style

surmounted by only one stigma.

Fruit:- Berry 7-10 x 6-8 mm, broadly ellipsoid to subglobose, hairless (glabrous)

not very fleshy usually blue-black when ripe

Key features:-

Habitat:- Damp places in scrubland vegetation and roadside thickets, coastal

swamps, gorges. 0-400(-700) m. mostly on non-calcareous substrates.

Distribution:- Coastal areas throughout Greece. - Mediterranean region and SW to

C Asia. Fairly scattered and common across Crete.

Flowering time:- (Apr-)June-Sept.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton

FAMILY AND GENUS DESCRIPTIONS

MYRTACEAE

General description:- Evergreen trees or shrubs.

Leaves:- Simple, usually opposite, exstipulate, with aromatic oil-glands.

Flowers:- Hermaphrodite, actinomorphic. Calyx and corolla 4- or 5-merous.

Stamens numerous. Ovary inferior, syncarpous, with axile placentation; fruit a berry

or capsule.

MYRTUS

General description:- Shrubs with simple,

Leaves:- Opposite.

Flowers:- Solitary in leaf-axils.

Fruit:- A berry crowned by the persistent calyx-teeth.

Key features:-

1) Leaves opposite.

2) Fruit a berry.

Uses:-

The bark, leaves and flowers contain an aromatic oil, Eau d'Anges, used in

perfumery and medicinally. The berries are sometimes fermented into an acid-

tasting drink.