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  • Myrtus communis L. Myrtaceae Myrtle Distribution: Europe. Dioscorides (Beck, 2005) recommends the fruit for treating haemoptysis (‘spitting blood’) and cystitis, and, if boiled, he said it made a fine wine. In various forms it was used as a hair dye, for sore eyes, anal and uterine prolapse, dandruff and shingles, all sorts of inflammations, scorpion bites and even sweaty armpits. Our plant has white berries, but he regarded those with black berries (they become black later in the season) as being more effective. Lyte (1576) adds that the juice of the berries kept the hair black and stopped it falling out, and prevented intoxication. He notes that it only flowered in hot summers in England, but it is reliable in flower now, either due to global warming or selection of suitable clones. According to Lyte, it is named after Merlyne, a fair maiden of Athens in ancient Greece, who judged the athletic games. Slain by a disgruntled competitor, the goddess Minerva brought her back as the myrtle tree in perpetual memory. The myrtle tree is also an ancient Jewish symbol for peace and justice. Myrtle wine is still made in Tuscany and now even in China. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • A plant (Eugenia corymbosa Lam.): branch with flowers and fruit, separate flowers and fruit and section of fruit with seed. Coloured line engraving.
  • Jambolan or Java plum (Eugenia jambolana Lam.): branch with flowers and fruit and separate flowers and fruit. Coloured line engraving.
  • A plant related to the clove tree (Eugenia species): flowering and fruiting stem and separate flowers, fruit and seed. Coloured line engraving.
  • A plant (Eugenia disticha): flowering and fruiting stem. Coloured engraving by F. Sansom, c. 1805, after S. Edwards.
  • Yate (Eucalyptus cornuta Labill.): flowering and fruiting stem with floral segments. Engraving by C. Dien, c.1798, after P. J. Redouté.
  • Clove plant (Syzygium aromaticum): stem with flower buds. Watercolour, c.1833.
  • Jambolan or Java plum (Eugenia jambolana Lam.): fruiting branch with numbered figures of inflorescence and sectioned flower, fruit and seed. Chromolithograph by P. Depannemaeker, c.1885, after B. Hoola van Nooten.
  • Clove tree (Syzygium aromaticum): flowering and fruiting stem with cloves and parasitic worm. Coloured etching by J. Pass, c. 1808, after J. Ihle.
  • Paperbark tree (Melaleuca ericifolia): flowering shoot with leaf and floral segments. Coloured engraving by J. Sowerby, c. 1805, after himself.
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