Myrtus

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of aromatic shrub or small tree, often associated with Mediterranean regions
2. A member of the Myrtaceae family, known for its fragrant leaves and edible berries
3. Symbolically linked to love and peace in various cultures throughout history

Etymology: Myrtus is the Latin name for the myrtle shrub, borrowed directly from Greek "myrtos", and the Greek word is thought to be a loanword from a non-Indo-European Mediterranean language, possibly related to the Semitic word behind "myrrh", though this is uncertain. In the ancient world the plant was tied closely to love and the gods: Aphrodite was associated with it, Roman brides wore myrtle wreaths, and victors in some Greek contests were crowned with it. The genus name was fixed by Carl Linnaeus in the 18th century, when he took the classical name and applied it to the plant that Europeans knew from the Mediterranean. Strictly speaking, the modern genus "Myrtus" is a narrow group within the family Myrtaceae, which is much larger and includes eucalyptus, guava, and clove. The family is named after the same ancient plant, so the classical name ended up labeling a whole family of mostly tropical and Southern Hemisphere trees.

Synonyms: myrtle