communis L. Myrtus communis L., Sp. Pl.: 471. 1753 Arabic: Rayhan, a'as, mersin French: Myrte sauvage English: Myrtle

Ecology The wild myrtle is especially confined to the Kroumirie-Mogods chain over an area of about 80,000 ha. It is found in cork oak formations and Compiled by: Dr. Zeineb Ghrabi also in zen oak and lentisc olive formations, where Edited by: Prof. Kamal H. Batanouny it is systematically associated in varying proportions with other species. It prefers acid soils and a rainfall Morphological description of over 600 mm. Myrtle is a or small 1-3 m. in height, evergreen, with a red bark that peels off in patches. Status, conservation, culture The leaves are evergreen and when crushed give off The wild myrtle is frequently picked for use in an aromatic smell. They are opposed, briefly petio- Tunisia. Its use as a source of oil has prompted the lated, simple, entire, oval, tough, glabrous and Direction Générale des Forêts to take very strict gleaming on top. The flowers are solitary, in the steps regarding its use. Every year, in all the axils of the leaves, with a urceolate receptacle fused country’s governorates concerned, the areas where to the ovary, with white petals and many . myrtle is used are defined according to an action The berries are blue-black, bitter to the taste and plan based on a three-to-four year rotation resinous, with few seeds. Flowering and fruit- according to the state of the vegetation. These bearing are spread out between May and July- areas are then made available to farmers after a August. tender. The leaves and flowers are distilled locally Two varieties are mentioned in Tunisia’s flora: the on the spot, to extract the myrtle oil. Approximately var. italica L., which is the most widespread and has 500-600 kg. of young shoots (twigs) is needed to 10-15 mm.-wide leaves, and the var. baetica L., extract 1.25 kg. of essential oil of myrtle. The flower which has wider leaves than the former (20 mm.) buds are picked to extract cosmetic essences. The and bigger fruits. These varieties do not appear on fruits are eaten locally or sold to make flavouring, the Med-Checklist. The list indicates the presence in jams and compotes. Myrtle is not planted in Tunisia. Tunisia of two subspecies: Myrtus communis subsp. communis and Myrtus communis subsp. tarentina Economic value (L.) Nyman, Consp. Fl. Eur.: 245. 1879 = Myrtus In July and August, stretches of myrtle are harvested communis var. tarentina L., Sp. Pl.: 471, 1753, = to extract the essential oils, particularly in the four Myrtus tarentina (L.) Miller, Gard, Dict. ed. 8: Myrtus delegations of Sejnane, Nefza, Tabarka and Aïn no. 6. 1768. Only the subspecies myrtus is Draham. mentioned for Tunisia. Out of the 80,000 ha. of myrtle registered in Tunisia, only 7,500 ha. is used, producing 0.3 to 0.8 Geographical distribution tonnes/ha. of green matter (i.e. 0.65 kg. of essential Local: Widespread in the Kroumirie, Mogods, the oil of myrtle). On average, 3,787 kg./year of essen- Tunisian dorsal ridge and Cap Bon. tial oil of myrtle is exported, at a price of 47.817 TD Regional: North Africa. the kilo, mainly to Europe (France and Spain), to be Global: The Mediterranean, Madeira, the Azores. used in the manufacturing of sweet-smelling

A Guide to Medicinal in North Africa 183 substances as an adjunct to the making of scent. Pharmaceutical production In 1991, the Régie d’Exploitation Forestière (REF, a The essential oil of myrtle is used in many medi- state-controlled body) sold about 20 tons of myrtle cines. berries, as against 7 tons in 1990. The berries were bought and sent to Italy to make myrtle liqueur. Use in herbal medicine An antiseptic for chronic pulmonary disorders and Part used urinary infections; a stomachic. The leaves and flower buds, which are picked to extract cosmetic essences. The fruit is eaten locally References or sold to make flavouring, jams or compotes. References Constituents Ben M’Hemmed M., 2002: Présentation des princi- The leaves contain an essential oil (0.3-0.6%) that pales plantes aromatiques et médicinales natu- is rich in terpenes, myrtenol and eucalyptol; tannins relles de la Tunisie. Séminaire sur la promotion (14%); and a resin. de l’investissement dans le secteur des plantes aromatiques et médicinales. Communication Pharmacological action and SIAT, 2- 5 Octobre. 2002, Tunis. toxicity Bruneton J., 1999 : Pharmacognosie, phytochimie, The myrtle is recognised by practitioners as having plantes médicinales. Tech. Doc. 3ème édition. balsamic, antiseptic, astringent and haemostatic Paris, France. properties. No toxicity is mentioned in the literature. Greuter W., H. M. Burdet et G. Long, 1986. Med- Checklist Volume 4 : Dicotylédones Lauraceae Traditional medicine – Rhamnaceae. p.: 243. The leaves and buds are used for stomach-ache, Le Floc’h E. 1983 : Contribution à une étude eth- haemorrhoids and skin problems. nobotanique de la flore tunisienne. Programme The fruits are picked in autumn and, as well as Flore et Végétation tunisienne. Min. de l’En. being used for their medicinal properties (ocular Sup. et de la Rech. Sci. 387 p. disorders), are used as a scented liniment. They give Paris R. et G. Dillemann, 1960 : Les plantes médici- off a pleasant scent and, like henna, are made into nales des régions arides : II - considérées sur- a paste and used as a capillary beauty product. tout du point de vue pharmacologique. The ripe fruit is eaten as a healing substance for Recherche sur la Zone aride. UNESCO. p : 57- gastric ulcers. An infusion of the leaves is used as a 88. mouthwash for gingivitis and for diarrhoea. The Pottier Alapetite G., 1979 : Flore de la Tunisie. leaves in association with walnuts and mulberry are Angiospermes- Dicotylédones, Apétales - given for diabetes. Dialypétales. Programme flore et végétation tunisiennes. 651p. Souayeh N., 2002: Les principaux résultats de la recherche dans le secteur des cultures aromati- ques et médicinales et les techniques de pro- duction. Séminaire sur la promotion de l’inves- tissement dans le secteur des plantes aromati- ques et médicinales. Communication SIAT, 2- 5 Octobre. 2002, Tunis. Valnet J. 2001: la phytothérapie. Traitement des maladies par les plantes. Maloine Editeur. 640 p.

184 A Guide to Medicinal Plants in North Africa