MYRSINE MYRTUS 91 



a plant, very tiny, pale green, produced in stalkless clusters of three to 

 six at the leaf-axils. Berries on the female plant dull red, orange-shaped, 

 -J in. or less across, with the persistent calyx at the base containing a 

 single seed. 



Native of the Himalaya, China, Azores, and the mountains of E. 

 and S. Africa. This curious little shrub, which is of neat habit and 

 has a general resemblance to Ilex crenata, is spread widely over the Old 

 World. It has no flower-beauty. The plants in cultivation are mostly, 

 if not entirely, of Himalayan or Chinese origin. It appears to be very 

 hardy; a plant raised from seed in 1895 at Kew has grown ever since in 

 the rock garden unprotected; now only about i ft. high. There is a 

 female plant which bears fruit in Lord Ilchester's garden at Abbotsbury, 

 near Weymouth; and there is, or used to be one, in Mr A. Waterer's 

 nursery at Knap Hill. I have had it also in fruit from Devonshire, 

 Ireland, etc. Wilson has recently sent seeds from China. 



MYRTUS COMMUNIS, Linnceus. MYRTLE. MYRTACE.E. 



An evergreen, very leafy shrub, up to 10 or 12 ft. high, sometimes a 

 small tree; young wood downy. Leaves opposite, ovate or lanceolate, 

 pointed, i to 2 ins. long, J to J in. wide ; dark glossy green above, paler 

 beneath, smooth on both sides, fragrant when crushed, and covered with 

 transparent dots ; margins entire, decurved ; stalk very short or none. 

 Flowers white, f in. across, fragrant, nearly always solitary on a slender 

 stalk | to i in. long arising from the leaf-axils, the most conspicuous 

 features being the crowded stamens J in. long, produced in a brush-like 

 cluster, and the five rounded petals; calyx green, with five erect, short, 

 broadly ovate lobes. Fruit a purplish black berry, roundish oblong, J in. 

 in length (white in variety LEUCOCARPA, De Candolle). 



The common myrtle is now very abundant in S. and E. Europe 

 ana the Mediterranean region generally, but is believed to have been 

 introduced there from VV. Asia, probably Persia or Afghanistan. It was 

 probably one of the first shrubs introduced to our islands from the 

 Levant, and was well known in the sixteenth century. One of the 

 favourite plants of the ancients, and held sacred by them to the goddess 

 of Love, a sprig of myrtle still carries its ancient significance in being 

 indispensable in the composition of wedding bouquets. It is not hardy 

 except in the mildest parts of the country, but thrives well upon a 

 south wall. 



Of the several varieties of myrtle, which vary in the colour of the 

 fruit (sometimes yellowish white) and in the form of the leaves, the 

 following only need be mentioned here. Most of them pertain rather 

 to the cold greenhouse than the open air. 



Var. TARENTINA, Linnaus. Tarentum Myrtle. Leaves small, narrowly 

 oval, to | in. long, \ to \ in. wide, often alternate ; young shoots, leaf-stalks, 

 and base of midrib very downy. This appears to be rather hardier than the 

 bigger4eaved type, but still needs wall protection. It bore its whitish fruits 

 at Kew, and with Canon Ellacombe at Bitton, in 1911. An open well-drained 

 loam suits the myrtles, and cuttings readily take root in gentle heat. 



