Myrtus communis

Myrtle Myr"tle (m[~e]r"t'l), n. [F. myrtil bilberry, prop., a little myrtle, from myrte myrtle, L. myrtus, murtus, Gr. my`rtos; cf. Per. m[=u]rd.] (Bot.) A species of the genus {Myrtus}, especially {Myrtus communis}. The common myrtle has a shrubby, upright stem, eight or ten feet high. Its branches form a close, full head, thickly covered with ovate or lanceolate evergreen leaves. It has solitary axillary white or rosy flowers, followed by black several-seeded berries. The ancients considered it sacred to Venus. The flowers, leaves, and berries are used variously in perfumery and as a condiment, and the beautifully mottled wood is used in turning. [1913 Webster]

Note: The name is also popularly but wrongly applied in America to two creeping plants, the blue-flowered periwinkle and the yellow-flowered moneywort. In the West Indies several myrtaceous shrubs are called myrtle. [1913 Webster]

{Bog myrtle}, the sweet gale.

{Crape myrtle}. See under {Crape}.

{Myrtle warbler} (Zo["o]l.), a North American wood warbler ({Dendroica coronata}); -- called also {myrtle bird}, {yellow-rumped warbler}, and {yellow-crowned warbler}.

{Myrtle wax}. (Bot.) See {Bayberry tallow}, under {Bayberry}.

{Sand myrtle}, a low, branching evergreen shrub ({Leiophyllum buxifolium}), growing in New Jersey and southward.

{Wax myrtle} ({Myrica cerifera}). See {Bayberry}. [1913 Webster]