Biology:Myrtus communis

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Short description: Species of flowering plant

Myrtus communis
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Myrtus
Species:
M. communis
Binomial name
Myrtus communis
Synonyms[1]

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.

Israeli stamp featuring the Myrtus communis, 1961
  • Myrtle plant.
    Myrtle plant.
  • Myrtle foliage.
    Myrtle foliage.
  • Myrtle berries.
    Myrtle berries.
  • Myrtle pot.
    Myrtle pot.
  • Berries macerated in alcohol to make Mirto liqueur.
    Berries macerated in alcohol to make Mirto liqueur.

See also

References

  1. ↑ The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species, http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-132410, retrieved 13 August 2016 
  2. ↑ USDA GRIN Taxonomy, https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=24898, retrieved 13 August 2016 
  3. ↑ 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 
  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". https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/11311/i-Myrtus-communis-i/Details. Retrieved 10 April 2018. 
  6. ↑ "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. 
  7. ↑ "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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