Myrica gale
Appearance
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.