资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

   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.

   {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}.

资料来源 : WordNet®

Myrtus communis
     n : European shrub with white or rosy flowers followed by black
         berries [syn: {common myrtle}]