First, the botanical characteristics of myrtle
1. Name and classification status
Myrtle is the official middle name, this name is derived from the "Seed Plant Name"; aliases also include gang (ren), mountain (nie), polylian, barley (ren) seed, bean barley, peach niang, Zhongni, etc.; in plant taxonomy belongs to the myrtle genus shrubs.
2, distribution and growth environment
Myrtle is mainly distributed in Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan and other provinces and regions in China; it usually grows on hilly slopes and is an indicator plant of acidic soil.
3, appearance characteristics
It is an evergreen shrub, 1-2 m tall, with gray-white soft hairs on the twigs; single-leaf paraphyletic, leathery leaves, oval or inverted ovate, blunt and rounded at the apex, broad wedge-shaped at the base, green shiny surface, gray hairs on the back, leaf veins from the base of the three veins, full leaf edge;
Flowers have long stalks, large flowers, 2-4 cm in diameter, solitary, purple-red; 5 calyxes, nearly round, leathery, and stored; 5 petals, inverted ovate, stamens red, flowering in April-May;
The berries are ovate pot-shaped, about 2 cm in diameter, and purple-black when ripe.
Second, the main use of myrtle
First, the ripe fruit of the myrtle is edible. Its nutrition is comprehensive, according to the relevant determination of its fruit contains mineral elements, amino acids, fatty acids, dietary fiber, anthocyanins, flavonoids and other nutrients, the fruit is sweet and sour, light and astringent aftertaste, with a unique flavor, is a pure natural fruit, in line with the modern people's pursuit of green natural food consumption concept, the market prospect is still good. In addition to fresh food, it can also be used as a variety of foods such as fruit juices, fruit wines, preserved fruits, and fruit powders.
Second, Myrtle has a long history of medicinal use, and there are records of myrtle's related medicinal uses in the "Chinese Materia Medica" and the "National Compilation of Chinese Herbal Medicines". The roots, leaves and fruits of myrtle can be used medicinally, and according to the data, it has the effect of astringent antidiarrhea, dispelling stasis and hemostasis, and fetal safety, mainly containing triphenols, flavonoids, terpenes, tannins and other active ingredients. Please follow your doctor's advice when using medicines.
Third, myrtle is a good landscaping plant. Its plant height is medium, the leaves are evergreen, the flowers are colorful and the flowering period is long, and it can be used as an ornamental plant cultivation application in the garden landscape. Its branches are soft, pruned, easy to shape, and can be used as bonsai material.
Fourth, myrtle is an evergreen shrub, with strong growth adaptability, lax water requirements, drought tolerance, thin salinity resistance, wind erosion resistance, strong regeneration and self-healing ability, very suitable for afforestation and greening of barren hillsides, and has certain ecological restoration value.
The above is for personal reference only.
(Image quoted from the Internet)