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.

2-3cm, 50-200cm+,
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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

Olea europaea
Wild oliveOlea_europaea_var_sylv.html
Morus alba
white mulberryMorus_alba.html