Biology:Myrtus communis
| Myrtus communis | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Myrtus |
| Species: | M. communis
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| Binomial name | |
| Myrtus communis | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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List
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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]
Description
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.
Myrtle plant.
Myrtle foliage.
Myrtle berries.
Myrtle pot.
Berries macerated in alcohol to make Mirto liqueur.
See also
- Austromyrtus dulcis (Midgen berry)
- Ugni molinae (Chilean guava berry)
References
- ↑ The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species, http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-132410, retrieved 13 August 2016
- ↑ USDA GRIN Taxonomy, https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=24898, retrieved 13 August 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Cretan Flora: An illustrated guide to the flora of Crete, http://www.cretanflora.com/myrtus_communis.html, retrieved 13 August 2016
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "RHS Plantfinder – Myrtus communis". https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/11311/i-Myrtus-communis-i/Details. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- ↑ "RHS Plantfinder – Myrtus communis subsp. tarentina". https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/59207/i-Myrtus-communis-i-subsp-i-tarentina-i/Details. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- ↑ "AGM Plants – Ornamental". Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 64. https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
Wikidata ☰ Q6122027 entry
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