Myrtus communis
Greek myrtle Μύρτος κοινή
Myrtaceae - myrtle family Dicot.
Myrtus communis
Greek myrtle Μύρτος κοινή
Myrtaceae - myrtle family Dicot.
Greek myrtle grows as an attractive pyramidal shrub in hot, dry, sunny locations. It has small, glossy, dark green leaves; in mid-summer the bushes are covered in creamy, white flowers which emit a delightful perfume. The leaves contain aromatic oils and they are used like bay leaves to flavour foods; the small branches can be used to wrap meat before roasting or cooking on a barbecue, imparting a spicy fragrance. The dark blue berries have a sweet juniper like flavour; in Sardinia, the berries are used to make a liqueur, Mirto.
The myrtle tree was sacred to Aphrodite and was planted around her shrines; she was often depicted wearing a garland or girdle of myrtle. Symbolising love and marriage, myrtle has become traditional part of royal British weddings; the bride always has sprigs of myrtle in her bouquet.
The Mediterranean.......embalmed with the perfume of the myrtle, surrounded by rude mountains, saturated with pure and transparent air. Jules Verne. 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea