Myrtus
(from Myrtos, the old Greek name). Myrtle. Including Luma and Ugni. ORD. Myrtaceae. An extensive genus (upwards of 100 species have been enumerated, but the number may probably be reduced) of stove, greenhouse, or nearly hardy, glabrous, tomentose, or pubescent, shrubs, rarely trees; they are mostly dispersed through tropical, extra-tropical, and Western South, America; eight are found in Australia, six in New Caledonia, four in New Zealand, and one frequently occurs in Europe and Western Asia. Calyx-tube turbinate; lobes and petals four or five, the latter spreading; peduncles axillary, often slender, one to many-flowered; central flowers short, lateral ones on long pedicels. Berry adnate to, or included in, the calyx-tube. Leaves opposite, penniveined. The common species (M. communis) and its varieties are popular and well-known plants, with flowers and foliage rather strongly scented. When grown in pots, they are equally well adapted for greenhouse, room, or window decoration. The small branches, especially of the narrow-leaved form, are very useful for intermixing with cut flowers. This species may also be grown against a wall, outside, in many parts, if a slight protection is afforded in winter. M. Ugni succeeds well, either planted out, or grown in large pots, in a greenhouse. The fruits, when ripe, are highly flavoured, and emit an agreeable perfume, which pervades the whole house. All Myrtles are of easy culture, in a compost of sandy loam and leaf soil. They are readily propagated by cuttings of firm or partially-ripened shoots, inserted under a glass, or in a close frame, those of the stove species requiring, of course, a warmer temperature than the greenhouse or half-hardy ones. The common species may be trained as tall standards, or in almost and shape desired. An abundance of water, and frequent syringings, are requisite for all Myrtles throughout the summer. The roots should not be allowed to get quite dry at any time.
M. bullata (blistered).* fl., petals pale pink, orbicular peduncles one-flowered. Berry black, urceolate. l. shortly petioled, 1in. to 2in. long, broadly elliptic-ovate or orbicular-ovate, obtuse, acute, or apiculate. h. 10ft. to 15ft. New Zealand, 1853. Greenhouse shrub. (B. M. 4809.) M. Cheken (Cheken). fl. white, numerous, axillary. Chili, 1847. A much-branched and densely-leafy, half-hardy shrub. (B. M. 5644.) M. communis (common).* Common Myrtle. fl. white; pedicels solitary, one-flowered, about the length of the leaves, bearing two linear bracteoles under the flowers. July. l. ovate or lanceolate, acute. h. 3ft. to 10ft. South Europe, 1597. There are a number of varieties of this handsome, strongly scented shrub in cultivation, differing chiefly in the shapes of the leaves; there is also a variegated-leaved form. The typical species proves quite hardy in the South of England.
M. fragrans (fragrant). fl. white; peduncles nearly as long as the leaves, puberulous. April. l. leathery, oval-roundish or obovate, emarginate at top, shining above, black-dotted beneath. h. 8ft. Jamaica, 1790. Stove shrub. (B. M. 1242.) M. Luma (Luma).* fl. white, large, on three to five-flowered branched pedicels; petals larger and more concave than in the common Myrtle. Summer. l. copious, opposite, nearly sessile, 2in. long, broad-oval, nearly orbicular, but acute at base, and sharply apiculate at point. h. 3ft. and upwards. Chili. Greenhouse shrub. SYNS. Eugenia apiculata and E. Luma. (B. M. 5040.) M. orbiculata (orbicular-leaved). A synonym of Eugenia orbiculata. M. tomentosa (tomentose). fl. rose; peduncles one to three-flowered, bearing two ovate bracteoles under each flower, shorter than the leaves, velvety. June. l. ovate, velvety above in the young state, clothed with hoary tomentum beneath. h. 2ft. to 6ft. China, 1776. Greenhouse shrub. (B. M. 250.) M. Ugni (Ugni).* fl. white; pedicels axillary, one flowered; calyx lobes reflexed. May. fr. globular (crowned with the persistent calyx teeth), red or black, glossy, with an agreeable aroma and pleasant taste; it is much esteemed in Chili. l. ovate, acute, glabrous; margins reflexed, dark green above; paler beneath. h. 4ft. Valdivia, 1845. Greenhouse shrub (hardy in South-west Britain). SYN. Eugenia Ugni (under which name it is figured in B. M. 4626).