Pictures of Flowers Myrtle Pictures and Myrtle Kind

By Pictures of flowers

on February 23, 2009

Pictures of Flowers Myrtle Pictures and Myrtle Kind

Myrtle is a genus of flowering plants native to southern Europe and North Africa. Myrtle is an evergreen shrub or a small tree that grows to a height of 5 meters. Common myrtle or true myrtle is widespread in the Mediterranean regions. In the United States, myrtle is popularly cultivated as an ornamental garden shrub due to its numerous showy flowers. Saharan myrtle is restricted to the mountains in southern Algeria and in Chad. In the Sahara desert, the plant is listed as an endangered species.

Leaves of myrtle are 3-5 cm long, shiny and possess fragrant essential oil. Flowers are white and star-like. Fruits are blue-black berries containing several seeds. All the parts including leaves, bark and the fruits are used in making perfumes. In southern Europe, bark of myrtle is also used in tanning industries. In the Islands of Sardinia and Corsica, myrtle is used in making aromatic liqueur by macerating it in alcohol. The drink so produced is known as Mirto and it is one of the national drinks of Sardinia. Mirto has two varieties. One of the varieties is produced from the berries and the other variety is produced from leaves of the myrtle plants.