Myrtus, commonly known as myrtle, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae (order Myrtales), first described by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1753. Although more than 600 names have been proposed for the genus over the centuries, nearly all have since been transferred to other genera or reduced to synonymy; only two species are currently accepted: Myrtus communis (common myrtle) and Myrtus nivellei (Saharan myrtle).
The genus is best represented by Myrtus communis, an evergreen shrub or small tree that grows to around 5 metres in height. Its leaves are 2–5 cm long and contain a fragrant essential oil. The flowers are white to pale pink with five petals and a conspicuous cluster of many protruding stamens, and the fruit is an edible berry that ripens to a deep blue-black. Myrtus communis is native to the Mediterranean basin, North Africa, Western Asia, Macaronesia, and the Indian subcontinent, and has been cultivated across warm-temperate and subtropical regions for millennia. The second accepted species, M. nivellei, is native to the mountainous areas of the Sahara in northern Africa.
Myrtle has a long history of human use. Classical authors including Hippocrates, Pliny, Dioscorides, and Galen documented its therapeutic properties, and it has been used in traditional Persian medicine as a hemostatic agent. More recently, a systematic review found insufficient clinical evidence to support its use in rhinosinusitis treatment. Beyond medicine, the blue-black berries are macerated in alcohol to produce Mirto, a traditional liqueur particularly associated with Sardinia, and the plant's essential oils have shown anti-proliferative and food-preservation properties in laboratory research. In cultivation, M. communis and its compact subspecies tarentina have received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Etymology
The genus name Myrtus derives from Latin myrtus and Greek myrtos (μύρτος), the classical name for the common myrtle plant, long associated with Aphrodite/Venus in Greco-Roman tradition and used in ceremonial garlands and perfumery.
Distribution
Myrtus communis is native to the Mediterranean region of southern Europe, North Africa, Western Asia, Macaronesia, and the Indian subcontinent, and is widely cultivated beyond this range. The second accepted species, M. nivellei, is restricted to the Saharan mountains of northern Africa.
Cultivation
Myrtus communis and its compact subspecies tarentina hold the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Both prefer a sheltered position in full sun and are considered hardy in mild climates. Propagation is achieved either from seed (stratified for approximately three months) or from semi-ripe cuttings taken with a short heel and rooted in moistened rooting medium.
Cultural Uses
Myrtle occupies a documented place in classical medicine: Hippocrates, Pliny, Dioscorides, Galen, and Arabian writers all referenced its therapeutic properties, and it was recommended for ailments ranging from scalp conditions to sinus infections. In traditional Persian medicine, the leaves of M. communis are used to arrest bleeding. More recently, a systematic review found insufficient clinical evidence to support its use in rhinosinusitis treatment. Beyond medicine, the blue-black berries are macerated in alcohol to produce Mirto, a traditional liqueur particularly associated with Sardinia, and the plant's essential oils have shown anti-proliferative and food-preservation properties in laboratory research.
