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MYRTLE Curiosities and significance: Sacred to Venus, the goddess of love, and therefore the symbol of love itself, in ancient times myrtle was traditionally placed on the foreheads of young newly-weds and decorated their doorways. The significance of the plant was “virginity”. Myrtle was the symbol of glory in ancient Rome. The victors of war were crowned with a wreath of laurel and myrtle. Scientific
name: Myrtus
communis
L. Common
name: Myrtle Family:
Mirtacee Characteristics:
Myrtle grows
spontaneously around the Mediterranean and is an evergreen shrub that at
times reaches the dimensions of a small tree and shows its full beauty
in late spring or summer when there is maximum light on the shiny, dark
green colour of its perfumed leaves that are opposite and lanceolate and
the numerous deliciously perfumed white flowers. Place
of origin, habitat and exposure: Present in the temperate and tropical zones throughout the world, myrtle
requires a mild climate, a well-drained soil without water stagnation
and a sunny position (or half-shade in the hotter regions) sheltered
from the wind. Colour
of flowers: Myrtle
flowers are simple in their beauty. They have five petals with a thick
group of long, thin yellow stamens in the centre (about fifty in each
flower) that give a feeling of lightness. Fruit:
Oval berries as big as
peas follow the flowers that ripen in autumn, reddish, blue-black or
white
in colour depending on the variety. The fruit of
the mirthle may
be eaten raw, soaked in alcohol
or dried. Period
of flowering: Fruit may
be picked in spring and summer. Cultivation:
Despite being a rustic
and resistant plant that may be sown easily, cultivated myrtle requires
particular attention: fertilise in autumn and regularly prune at the end
of winter to keep the plant in shape and vigorous. Also control that the
soil is not attacked by coccineal, a minute parasite that invades the
leaves and trunks controlled with the use of an anti-coccineal oil.
It is also possible to grow myrtle in deep pots at least half a metre
wide. Bring indoors when the temperature drops below 5° centigrade. Reproduction: The most simple method of reproduction is by breaking off the stalks that almost always grow around the base of the main plant. This operation should take place in late spring. In the absence of stalks, reproduce using margotte or breaking off talea in late summer. Possible
uses: A
cologne known as “angel water” is made from myrtle berries. The hard
wood is sought after for its use in inlayed work.
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MIRTO Curiosità e significato: Sacro a Venere dea dell’amore e dunque ritenuto simbolo d’amore, il mirto nell’antichità ornava per tradizione la fronte delle giovani spose e la loro abitazione; il significato della pianta era: verginità. Nell’antica Roma il mirto fu simbolo di gloria: i vincitori delle guerre erano incoronato con alloro e mirto. Nome
scientifico: Nome comune: Mirto; mortella Famiglia: Mirtacee Caratteristiche:
Spontaneo nella macchia mediterranea il mirto è un arbusto
sempreverde che talora raggiunge le dimensioni di un piccolo albero ed
esprime al massimo la sua bellezza in tarda primavera o in estate quando
sulla lucente massa color verde scuro delle foglioline odorose, opposte
e lanceolate, si schiudono i numerosissimi fiori bianchi deliziosamente
profumati. Luogo d’origine, habitat ed esposizione: Il mirto, presente nelle zone temperate o tropicali di tutto il mondo, desidera un clima mite, un terreno ben drenato cioè privo di ristagni d’acqua e una posizione al sole (o a mezz’ombra nelle regioni più calde) e al riparo dai venti. Colori
dei fiori: I fiori del mirto mostrano la bellezza della semplicità:
hanno 5 petali con al centro un folto gruppo di lunghi e sottili stami
gialli (circa una cinquantina per fiore) che suggeriscono
un’impressione di leggerezza. |
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