myrtle
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Common myrtle ( Myrtus communis ) |
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The myrtle ( Myrtus communis ), also called bridal myrtle and common myrtle , is an evergreen shrub and the only member of the myrtle family (Myrtaceae) native to the Mediterranean region .
description
The myrtle is an evergreen, richly branched shrub that can reach heights of up to 5 meters. Older branches are bare, only the young branches have glandular hairs. The tough, entire leaves are short-stalked and pointed ovate. The leaf position is opposite, sometimes three leaves are at a node. The leaves are dotted with translucent glands and are between 1 and 5 cm long. The top of the leaves is darker green and shiny, the underside is lighter.
Numerous small, white, fragrant flowers develop between May and August. They stand individually in the leaf axils on flower stalks up to 3 cm long and are up to 3 cm wide. The sepals are triangular, the petals obovate to almost circular. The numerous stamens have yellow anthers. A spherical, approximately 1 cm large, blue-black berry fruit develops from the ovary below.
The number of chromosomes is 2n = 22.
distribution
The distribution area includes the Mediterranean , the Canaries and reaches east to Pakistan. Macchia and forests on slightly moister, stony, lime-free soils are preferred as locations . The myrtle has been cultivated since ancient times and is therefore often overgrown. The myrtle in the Hermannshof exhibition and viewing garden in Weinheim an der Bergstrasse is the oldest and largest specimen in Germany .
Systematics
One can distinguish between two subspecies:
- Myrtus communis subsp. communis : It occurs from Macaronesia to Pakistan.
- Myrtus communis subsp. tarentina (L.) Nyman : It is native to southern Europe in Spain, France, Italy, Sardinia, Crete and in the former Yugoslavia.
Cultural history
The myrtle played a major role in Greek mythology . There is a narration of a ritual in which branches of myrtle are sprinkled on a path to be tread while incense is burned.
In ancient Greece, the myrtle was dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite , the goddess of love and beauty. Myrtle branches are a symbol of virginity, vitality and many healthy children, but also love that goes beyond death.
The Greeks and Romans already decorated the virgin bride with a myrtle wreath. In the 16th century this wedding custom became a custom in Germany as well. The groom and groomsmen received twigs to pin on. Sometimes the bridesmaids were also adorned with a myrtle wreath. A custom developed for the young wife to plant a branch from the bridal wreath in the ground and let it root. The green plant was seen as an indicator of constant marital happiness and was especially cherished. The myrtle found its way into living rooms and is one of the oldest indoor plants .
Even today, myrtle wreaths or bouquets are occasionally worn for weddings.
In the Middle Ages and later, the myrtle was also known as "Welsche Heidelbeere".
use
Due to the essential oil of the leaves, which has a strong secretion-promoting effect, the plant is important in the treatment of the respiratory tract and serves to stimulate the appetite. In the kitchen it is mainly used as a condiment for meat dishes. Leaves and berries as well as flowers are popularly used. The myrtle is also used in liqueur production . In Sardinia, it is the basis of Mirto Rosso (red mirto), a sweet liqueur made from the berries. The Mirto Bianco (white Mirto) is a dry liqueur in which the leaves and flowers of the myrtle are used. The Corsican variant of the Mirto is called myrtle . The name of the sausage mortadella is derived from the original recipe with myrtle, before pepper became popular in Europe.
literature
- Peter Schönfelder, Ingrid Schönfelder: What is in bloom in the Mediterranean? 750 species (= Kosmos nature guide ). 4th edition. Franckh-Kosmos, Stuttgart 2005, ISBN 3-440-10211-4 .
- Dankwart Seidel: Flowers on the Mediterranean. Determine accurately with the 3-check . BLV, Munich 2002, ISBN 3-405-16294-7 .
- Mechthild Siede: myrtle. In: Real Lexicon for Antiquity and Christianity . Volume 25, Hiersemann, Stuttgart 2013, ISBN 978-3-7772-1318-7 , Sp. 378-389
Web links
- http://www.myrtus-communis.de - Extensive information, care as a houseplant, bonsai
- http://gernot-katzers-spice-pages.com/germ/Myrt_com.html - The myrtle as a spice
Individual evidence
- ^ Myrtus communis at Tropicos.org. In: IPCN Chromosome Reports . Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis
- ↑ a b c d Rafaël Govaerts (Ed.): Myrtus communis. In: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) - The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ↑ Aristophanes : The Wasps , 860 and Herodotus : Historien , VII 54.1.
- ↑ Jürgen Martin: The 'Ulmer Wundarznei'. Introduction - Text - Glossary on a monument to German specialist prose from the 15th century. Königshausen & Neumann, Würzburg 1991 (= Würzburg medical-historical research. Volume 52), ISBN 3-88479-801-4 (also medical dissertation Würzburg 1990), p. 123 ( cicatricans ) and 190 ( welsch […] ).
- ↑ On the term welsch (“Italian, French, Romansh”) cf. Real walnut .
- ↑ [1]