View source for Myrtle

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Myrtle
| image = Myrtus_communis.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Myrtus communis''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Myrtales]]
| familia = [[Myrtaceae]]
| genus = '''''Myrtus'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
''Myrtus communis'' [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]<br/>
''Myrtus nivellei'' Batt. & Trab.
}}

The '''Myrtle''' (''Myrtus'') is a genus of one or two species of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Myrtaceae]], native to southern [[Europe]] and north [[Africa]]. They are [[evergreen]] [[shrub]]s or small [[tree]]s, growing to 5 m tall. The [[leaf|leaves]] are entire, 3-5 cm long, with a pleasantly fragrant [[essential oil]]. The star-like [[flower]]s have five petals and sepals, and an amazingly large number of [[stamen]]s. Petals are usually white, with globose blue-black [[berry|berries]] containing several [[seed]]s. The flowers are pollinated by [[insect]]s, and the seeds dispersed by [[bird]]s that feed on the berries.

The '''Common Myrtle''' ''Myrtus communis'', is widespread in the [[Mediterranean]] region and is also by far the most commonly cultivated. It was sacred to [[Aphrodite]]. The other species, '''Saharan Myrtle''' ''M. nivellei'', is restricted to the [[Tassili n'Ajjer]] mountains in southern [[Algeria]] and the [[Tibesti Mountains]] in [[Chad]], where it occurs in small areas of sparse relict woodland near the centre of the [[Sahara Desert]]; it is listed as an [[conservation status|endangered species]]. However, some [[botanist]]s are not convinced that ''M. nivellei'' is sufficiently distinct to be treated as a separate species.

===Modern uses===
Myrtle is used in the islands of [[Sardinia]] and [[Corsica]] to produce an aromatic liqueur called "[[Mirto_(drink)|Mirto]]"' by [[macerating]] it in alcohol. It is known as one of the national drinks of Sardinia<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquore_di_mirto|title=Liquore di mirto|accessdate=2007-06-18|publisher=Italian Wikipedia|language=Italian}}</ref>. There are two varieties of this drink: the "Mirto Rosso" (red) produced by macerating the berries, and the "Mirto Bianco" (white) produced from the leaves.

==Uses in myth and ritual==
In [[Jewish liturgy]], it is one of the four sacred plants of [[Sukkot]], the Feast of Tabernacles, rationalized as for its pleasant aroma. The leaves are held by the worshippers in the synagogue during the prayers.

In [[Greek mythology]] and ritual the myrtle was sacred to the goddesses [[Aphrodite]]<ref>V. Pirenne-Delforge, “Épithètes cultuelles et interpretation philosophique: à propos d’Aphrodite Ourania et Pandémos à Athènes.” ''AntCl'' ''57'' (1980::142-57) p. 413.</ref> and also [[Demeter]]: [[Artemidorus]] asserts that in interpreting dreams “a myrtle garland signifies the same as an olive garland, except that it is especially auspicious for farmers because of Demeter and for women because of Aphrodite. For the plant is sacred to both goddesses.”<ref>Artemidorus, ''Oneirocritica'', I.77. (translation of [[Hugh G. Evelyn-White]]).</ref> [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] explains that one of the Graces in the sanctuary at [[Elis]] holds a myrtle branch because “the rose and the myrtle are sacred to Aphrodite and connected with the story of [[Adonis]], while the Graces are of all deities the nearest related to Aphrodite.” Myrtle is the garland of [[Iacchus]], according to [[Aristophanes]],<ref>Aristophanes, ''[[The Frogs]]'', the Iacchus chorus, 330ff.</ref> and of the victors at the [[Thebes, Greece|Theban]] ''Iolaea'', held in honour of the Theban hero [[Iolaus]].<ref>[[Pindar]], ''Isthmian Ode'' IV.</ref>

In Rome, Virgil explains that “the poplar is most dear to Alcides, the vine to Bacchus, the myrtle to lovely Venus, and his own laurel to Phoebus.”<ref>Virgil, [[Eclogue]] VII.61-63.</ref> At the [[Veneralia]], women bathed wearing crowns woven of myrtle branches, and myrtle was used in wedding rituals

===Related plants===
Many other related species native to [[South America]], [[New Zealand]] and elsewhere, previously classified in a wider interpretation of the genus ''Myrtus'', are now treated in other genera, ''[[Eugenia]], [[Lophomyrtus]], [[Luma (plant)|Luma]], [[Rhodomyrtus]], [[Syzygium]], [[Ugni]]'', and at least a dozen other genera. The name "myrtle" is also used to refer to unrelated plants in several other genera: "Crepe myrtle" (''[[Lagerstroemia]]'', [[Lythraceae]]), "Wax myrtle" (''[[Myrica]]'', [[Myricaceae]]), and "Myrtle" or "Creeping myrtle" (''[[Vinca]]'', [[Apocynaceae]]).

==Footnotes==
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==External links==
*[http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/Myrt_com.html Myrtle (''Myrtus communis'' L.)], from Gernot Katzer's Spice Pages

{{Myrtaceae-stub}}

[[Category:Myrtaceae]]