311 MYRTUS COMMUNIS. 



somotimcs callotl the "Flowering Myrtle," because it flowers in England moir 

 than any other variety. 



2. M. c. TAKKNTiNA. Tavcutum or Box-lcavcd Myrtle; Myrie de Tarente^ of 

 the French. The leaves of this variety are small and ovate. Flowers small, 

 and opening late in antnmn. Berries ronnd and hlack. 



3. M. c. rr.M.uA. IIuVkdi or IJpr'iislit Myrtle, the leaves of which arc ovate- 

 lanceolate, and the branches erect. Fruit black. 



4. M. c. BCETiCA. A)idalitsia7i or Orange-leaved Myrtle; Myrie d^ Andnhisie, 

 of the French, the leaves of which are lanceolate and acuminate. Fruit black. 



5. M. c. LUsiTANicA. P()rtii<^nd Myrtle, with black fruit. 



6. M. c. BELGiCA. Broad-hurcd Dutch Myrtle; Myrte de Belgiqiie, of the 

 French, the leaves of which are lanceolate, acuminated, crowded together, and 

 of a dark-green. Fruit black. 



7. M. c. MUCRONATA. Sluirp-pointcd-leaved or Thyme-leaved Myrtle; Myrte 

 pointu, of the French, the leaves of which are linear-lanceolate, and acuminated. 

 Fruit black. This variety and all the preceding ones are frequent in the south 

 of Europe, and comprise several sub-varieties with double flowers and variegated 

 leaves. 



8. M. c. LEUcocARPA. Wh'ite-herried Myrtle, a native of Greece and the Belearic 

 Islands. The fruit, which is white, is rather large, and edible, with a grateful 

 taste and smell. 



All of the above-named varieties are constant; but there arc many others 

 growing in gardens, which are more variable. The following are the names of 

 most of these : 



a. Gold- striped Broad-leaved Myrtle. 



j9. Broad-Leaved Jews^ Myrtle, having leaves frequently in threes, on which 

 account it is said to be in esteem among the Jews in their religious ceremonies. 



y. Gold-striped Orange-leaved Myrtle. 



5. Silver-striped Italian Myrtle. 

 e. Striped- leaved Myrtle. 



C. Silver-striped Rosemary or Thyme-leaved Myrtle. 



rj. Silver-striped Nutmeg Myrtle, apparently a sub-variety of the " Portugal 

 Myrtle." 



6. Cock'' s-comb or Bird's-nest Myrtle. 

 t. Spotted-leaved Myrtle. 



X. Donhle- flowered Myrtle, apparently a sub- variety of the " Broad-leaved 

 Dutch Myrtle." 



Geography and History. The Myrtus communis is indigenous to the south of 

 Europe, and is found wild in abundance in France, about Marseilles, and from 

 that city, along the coast to Genoa, growing in thickets, even within the spray 

 of the sea, and throughout Italy. It is cultivated as a standard or for hedges in 

 collections and gardens in most of the warm and temperate countries of the globe: 

 and in climes less congenial to its growth, it is made to ornament the conserva- 

 tory or to grace the garden wall. 



Although the myrtle is now common as an underwood, in Italy, Pliny tells us 

 that it was not a native of that country ; and that the first myrtle seen in Europe 

 was planted near the tomb of one of the companions of Ulysses at Circeii ; and he 

 adds that it still retained its Greek name imirtos. He mentions eleven sorts of 

 myrtle, and says that the most odoriferous grew in Egypt. Cato only speaks of 

 two kinds. 



The first cultivation of the myrtle in Britain is assigned, in the " Hortus Kew- 

 ensis," to the year 1629 ; when Parkinson informs us that he had three sorts in 

 his garden, namely, the broad-leaved, and two varieties of the box-leaved myrtle. 

 Gerard, however, in 1597, says that "myrtles never bear fruit in England:" 



