Myrtle [Classical name for a species of myrtle]

Leslie R. Landrum

Shrubs or trees, usually glabrous or glabrate, hairs simple, whitish. Leaves usually opposite or whorled; blade venation brochidodromous, obscure. Inflorescences 1-flowered, axillary, flowers solitary. Flowers 5-merous, pedicellate; hypanthium obconic; calyx lobes persisting after anthesis, distinct, small tears sometimes forming between lobes; petals whitish; stamens 100–200; ovary 2- or 3-locular, septum often incomplete centrally to apically; placenta axile, not protruding, V- to O-shaped; ovules 22–34 per locule, 2-seriate. Fruits berries, bluish purple (pulp whitish), subglobose. Seeds 8–20, somewhat flattened, C-shaped to coiled; outer rim of seed coat hard and shiny, central portion often soft, external portion a few cells thick, not notably dense, easily broken; embryo C-shaped, cylindrical; cotyledons linear, ca. 1/2 as long as embryo. x = 11.

Species 1 or 2 (1 in the flora): introduced; s Europe, n Africa.

Lower Taxon

• Myrtus communis Linnaeus