Scientific name
Common name
Family
Origin
Mediterranean region, Middle East, and parts of southern Asia, including Atlantic islands.
Description
This is an aromatic, fairly bushy, perennial shrub that can grow up to 3 m tall. Its leaves are simple, very shiny, deep green and aromatic. The flowers are white, also very fragrant, with very long and showy stamens. They are used to make perfumes. The fruit is a dark lilac-coloured berry, which can be used to make jams and liqueurs. The flowering time is in spring, the fruits start to come out in summer, but it is not until autumn that they are ripe and ready to harvest.
Medicinally, it has been used to alleviate the symptoms of colds, as it helps to combat inflammatory processes of the respiratory tract. It is also digestive, antiseptic and slightly sedative. Traditionally, the fruits and leaves were used for hair loss, dandruff and daily skin care.
In Roman mythology, myrtle was consecrated to the goddess Venus, the Roman equivalent of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. Myrtle thus became the plant of love and symbolised beauty and youth.