Myrtus communis L.

Myrtle (en), Myrte commun (fr)

Species

Angiosperms > Myrtales > Myrtaceae > Myrtus

Characteristics

A dense bushy shrub. It grows 3 m high. It spreads 3 m wide. The leaves are small and glossy. They are 35 mm long and dark green above but paler underneath. The leaves have a spicy smell when crushed. The flowers are white and fragrant. They occur singly in the axils of the upper leaves. They have 5 petals and a central puff of stamens. The fruit is a dark purple berry. It is 12 mm across.
More
Shrub 0.9–3 m tall or sometimes a small tree, with scented foliage.. Leaves lanceolate, oblong-lanceolate or ovate, 0.5–2 cm long.. Flowers white, solitary, axillary.. Berry blue-black.. Fig. 4/1–3, p. 14.
Life form perennial
Growth form shrub
Growth support free-standing
Foliage retention evergreen
Sexuality hermaphrodite
Pollination entomogamy
Spread endozoochory
Mature width (meter) 2.5 - 2.75
Mature height (meter) 3.0
Root system -
Rooting depth (meter) 1.2
Root diameter (meter) 0.4
Flower color
Blooming months
JanFebMar
AprMayJun
JulAugSep
OctNovDec
Fruit color
Fruiting months
JanFebMar
AprMayJun
JulAugSep
OctNovDec
Nitrogen fixer -
Photosynthetic pathway c3

Environment

A subtropical plant. They thrive in hot dry conditions. Fruit are only produced in warm conditions. It can tolerate light frost. It is grown in some highland regions in the tropics. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 8-11. Kyneton Botanical Gardens.
More
Scrub, avoiding calcareous soils.
Light 6-8
Soil humidity 3-7
Soil texture 1-6
Soil acidity 3-8
Soil nutriment -
Hardiness (USDA) 9-10

Usage

The fruit are eaten raw. They are also dried and used as a flavouring. They are used to flavour meats, poultry, sauces, liqueurs, and syrups. The leaves are used as a flavouring. The fruit are sometimes fermented into an acid-tasting drink. An essential oil from the leaves and twigs is used as a condiment. The flower buds are eaten.
Uses bee plant charcoal environmental use essential oil food fuel gene source invertebrate food material medicinal seasoning wood
Edible flowers fruits leaves seeds
Therapeutic use Anti-bacterial agents (aerial part), Antineoplastic agents (aerial part), Anti-bacterial agents (fruit), Anti-inflammatory agents (fruit), Antirheumatic agents (fruit), Diarrhea (fruit), Dysentery (fruit), Flatulence (fruit), Hemorrhage (fruit), Leukorrhea (fruit), Prolapse (fruit), Ulcer (fruit), Analgesics (leaf), Anthelmintics (leaf), Antifungal agents (leaf), Anti-infective agents (leaf), Anti-infective agents, local (leaf), Antioxidants (leaf), Antiparasitic agents (leaf), Antiprotozoal agents (leaf), Antirheumatic agents (leaf), Astringents (leaf), Blister (leaf), Brain diseases (leaf), Disinfectants (leaf), Dyspepsia (leaf), Eczema (leaf), Epilepsy (leaf), Hemostasis (leaf), Hypnotics and sedatives (leaf), Hypoglycemic agents (leaf), Counterirritant (leaf), Liver injury (leaf), Liver diseases (leaf), Lung diseases (leaf), Molluscacides (leaf), Mouthwashes (leaf), Parasympatholytics (leaf), Respiratory tract infections (leaf), Scorpion stings (leaf), Stomach diseases (leaf), Tuberculosis, pulmonary (leaf), Ulcer (leaf), Urinary bladder diseases (leaf), Urinary tract infections (leaf), Urologic diseases (leaf), Wounds and injuries (leaf), Diarrhea (seed), Dysentery (seed), Antiseptic (unspecified), Astringent (unspecified), Bladder (unspecified), Cordial (unspecified), Cystitis (unspecified), Dyspepsia (unspecified), Epilepsy (unspecified), Hemorrhage (unspecified), Lung (unspecified), Prolapse (unspecified), Pyelitis (unspecified), Rheumatism (unspecified), Sedative (unspecified), Stimulant (unspecified), Stomach (unspecified), Stomachic (unspecified), Urogenital (unspecified), Uterus (unspecified), Wound (unspecified), Carminative (unspecified), Condyloma(Anus) (unspecified), Leucorrhea (unspecified), Perfume (unspecified), Brain (unspecified), Bronchitis (unspecified), Mouthwash (unspecified), Pectoral (unspecified), Rubefacient (unspecified), Tonic (unspecified), Tumor(Tonsil) (unspecified), Analgesics (unspecified), Anti-infective agents, local (unspecified), Antirheumatic agents (unspecified), Astringents (unspecified), Chest pain (unspecified), Cough (unspecified), Diarrhea (unspecified), Disinfectants (unspecified), Dysentery (unspecified), Hypnotics and sedatives (unspecified), Counterirritant (unspecified), Leukorrhea (unspecified), Liver diseases (unspecified), Mouthwashes (unspecified), General tonic for rejuvenation (unspecified), Skin diseases (unspecified), Stomatitis, aphthous (unspecified), Ulcer (unspecified), Urinary bladder diseases (unspecified), Wounds and injuries (unspecified), Hair loss (whole plant), Antifungal agents (whole plant), Increase physical endurance, strength and stamina (whole plant)
Human toxicity -
Animal toxicity -

Cultivation

It is mostly grown from cuttings. Seeds and air layering are also possible.
Mode cuttings seedlings
Germination duration (days) 30 - 90
Germination temperacture (C°) 12 - 18
Germination luminosity -
Germination treatment soaking
Minimum temperature (C°) -
Optimum temperature (C°) 15 - 24
Size -
Vigor -
Productivity -

Images

Habit

Myrtus communis habit picture by Francois Mansour (cc-by-sa)
Myrtus communis habit picture by Monteiro Henrique (cc-by-sa)
Myrtus communis habit picture by Martin Bishop (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Myrtus communis leaf picture by Marie Michèle Pietri (cc-by-sa)
Myrtus communis leaf picture by Claude BOGACZ (cc-by-sa)
Myrtus communis leaf picture by Natural Ethik (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Myrtus communis flower picture by Alexandre d'Ennetieres (cc-by-sa)
Myrtus communis flower picture by Thomas Theise (cc-by-sa)
Myrtus communis flower picture by Francois Mansour (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Myrtus communis fruit picture by deseri enrico (cc-by-sa)
Myrtus communis fruit picture by macchia1 (cc-by-sa)
Myrtus communis fruit picture by emanuele (cc-by-sa)

Distribution

Myrtus communis world distribution map, present in France and Pakistan

Conservation status

Myrtus communis threat status: Least Concern

Identifiers

LSID urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:599719-1
WFO ID wfo-0000248712
COL ID 73SR3
BDTFX ID 43452
INPN ID 109186
Wikipedia (EN) Link
Wikipedia (FR) Link

Synonyms

Myrtus angustifolia Myrtus augustinii Myrtus briquetii Myrtus communis Myrtus eusebii Myrtus josephi Myrtus lanceolata Myrtus macrophylla Myrtus major Myrtus microphylla Myrtus minor Myrtus mirifolia Myrtus petri-ludovici Myrtus rodesi Myrtus aurantiifolia Myrtus gervasii Myrtus acutifolia Myrtus veneris Myrtus vidalii Myrtus baui Myrtus christinae Myrtus communis var. acutifolia Myrtus communis var. angustifolia Myrtus communis var. eusebii Myrtus communis var. belgica Myrtus italica var. briquetii Myrtus communis var. christinae Myrtus communis var. mucronata Myrtus communis var. romana Myrtus communis subsp. mucronata Myrtus communis var. italica Myrtus communis var. lusitanica Myrtus communis var. gervasii Myrtus italica var. petri-ludovici Myrtus baetica var. vidalii Myrtus communis var. grandifolia Myrtus communis var. neapolitana Myrtus communis var. joussetii Myrtus communis var. foucaudii Myrtus communis var. balearica Myrtus communis var. communis Myrtus latifolia

Lower taxons

Myrtus communis subsp. communis Myrtus communis subsp. tarentina