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Myrtus L.
Genus composed of 2 shrub species, distributed along the old world, both native to North Africa. And a third species from the American tropics, M. phyllireaefolia (A. Rich.) Kuntze (Eugenia phyllireaefolia A. Rich.). In the past, many other species, mainly American, were also included in this genus, but are included in other genera now.
Key to species
1 Leaves ovate-lanceolate, 2-3 times longer than wide. In humid Mediterranean mountains Myrtus communis
1 Leaves linear-lanceolate, 6-8 times longer than wide. In central-Saharan arid mountain massifs Myrtus nivellei
Updated by: H. Sainz & J. Charco.