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Myrica gale - L.

Bog Myrtle

Author	L.	Botanical references	11, 17, 200
Family	Myricaceae	Genus	Myrica
Synonyms	Gale palustris - (Lam.)Chev. Myrica palustris - Lam.
Known Hazards	This plant is an abortifacient and so should not be eaten by pregnant women[4, 172].
Range	Western Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia to Portugal, east to N.W. Russia. N. America.
Habitat	Bogs, marshes, fens and wet heathland in acid soils but plants are occasionally found in calcareous fens[5, 17, 186].
Edibility Rating	2 (1-5)	Medicinal Rating	2 (1-5)

Physical Characteristics

A decidious Shrub growing to 2m by 1m.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soil. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist or wet soil.

Habitats

Woodland Garden; Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit.

Edible Uses: Condiment; Tea.

The aromatic fruits and leaves are used either fresh or dried to flavour soups, stews etc[2, 4, 62, 100, 183]. They are sometimes put in beer and ale to improve the flavour and increase foaming[183]. The fruit is about 3mm in diameter with a single large seed[200]. The dried leaves make a delicate and palatable tea[4, 62, 172, 183].

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Abortifacient; Aromatic; Astringent; Emmenagogue; Stomachic.

The leaves are abortifacient, aromatic, astringent, emmenagogue and stomachic[4, 46, 172, 238]. The leaves are normally used as a tea, but they do contain a poisonous aromatic oil, so some caution is advised in their use[4].

Other Uses

Dye; Essential; Parasiticide; Repellent; Tannin; Wax.

A wax covering on the fruit and leaves is extracted by scalding the fruit with boiling water and immersing them for a few minutes, the wax floats to the surface and is then skimmed off. The fruit is then boiled in water to extract the wax from the pulp and once more the wax is skimmed off. It is then strained through a muslin cloth and can be used to make aromatic candles[4, 6, 245]. These candles diffuse a delightful odour when burnt[245]. Unfortunately this species does not produce enough wax to make it commercially viable[115]. A yellow dye is obtained from the stem tips[66, 115, 172]. Brown according to another report[257]. A yellow dye is obtained from the seeds[257]. The bark contains tannin and can be gathered in the autumn and used as a yellow dye[4]. The plant repels moths and insects in general[66, 106, 115]. The fragrant leaves are used[4, 100]. A strong decoction of the leaves can be used as a parasiticide to kill external body parasites[172]. A fragrant essential oil is obtained from the fruits[115].

Scented Plants

Fruit: Crushed Dried

A wax obtained from the fruit has a powerful balsamic perfume[245].

Leaves: Crushed

The leaves emit a delicious sweet perfume when touched[245].

Stem: Crushed

The wood is scented[245].

Cultivation details

There is some difference of opinion about the needs of this plant. Most reports say that it prefers a moist soil and that it grows well in an open position in a well-drained soil in sun or light shade. Most reports also say that it prefers or even requires a lime-free loamy or peaty soil[1, 200] but another report says that it succeeds in any ordinary garden soil[11]. In the wild it is usually found in soils with a pH between 3.5 and 6, but it is also sometimes found in fens with a pH as high as 7.5[186]. A suckering shrub, when well sited it can form thickets[186]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil micro-organisms, these form nodules on the roots of the plants and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[200].This habit also allows the plant to succeed in water-logged soils[186]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. This plant is occasionally monoecious and also can change sex from year to year[50]. Flowers are produced mainly on one-year old wood[4]. All parts of the plant are pleasantly aromatic[186]. A good food plant for the caterpillars of many species of butterflies[30]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. Barely cover the seed and keep it moist. Stored seed germinates more freely if given a 3 month cold stratification and then sown in a cold frame. Germination is usually good[78]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow on in the cold frame for the first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer[K]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Pot up and overwinter in a cold frame. Fair to good percentage[78]. Cuttings of mature wood in November/December in a frame. Layering in spring[200]. Division of suckers in the dormant season. Plant them out direct into their permanent positions.

Links

This plant is also mentioned in the following PFAF articles: Alternative Lighting: Plant Oils and Waxes.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[2] Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.

[4] Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.

[5] Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974 ISBN 0-00-219060-5
Edible wild plants found in Britain. Fairly comprehensive, very few pictures and rather optimistic on the desirability of some of the plants.

[6] Mabey. R. Plants with a Purpose. Fontana 1979 ISBN 0-00-635555-2
Details on some of the useful wild plants of Britain. Poor on pictures but otherwise very good.

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[17] Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.

[30] Carter D. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe. Pan 1982 ISBN 0-330-26642-x
An excellent book on Lepidoptera, it also lists their favourite food plants.

[46] Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

[50] ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964
An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.

[62] Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982 ISBN 0442222009
Very readable.

[66] Freethy. R. From Agar to Zenery. The Crowood Press 1985 ISBN 0-946284-51-2
Very readable, giving details on plant uses based on the authors own experiences.

[78] Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.

[100] Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969 ISBN 0192176218
An excellent and well illustrated pocket guide for those with very large pockets. Also gives some details on plant uses.

[106] Coon. N. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rodale Press 1975 ISBN 0-87857-090-x
Interesting reading but short on detail.

[115] Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. 0
Written about a hundred years ago, but still a very good guide to the useful plants of Britain.

[172] Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. 0
A nice guide to some useful plants in that area.

[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[186] Beckett. G. and K. Planting Native Trees and Shrubs. Jarrold 1979
An excellent guide to native British trees and shrubs with lots of details about the plants.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[238] Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

[245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

[257] Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.

Readers Comments

Plants for a Future does not verify the accuracy of reader comments, use at your own risk. In particular Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. You should always consult a professional before using plants medicinally.

Myrica gale

Gordon Lees Fri Jun 23 2006

Having returned from Scotland full of midge bites.And watching breakfast on BBC when Bog Myrtle was mentioned as a deterent used by Crofters to the dreaded fly followed a link to this page which is very informative is thank you

Myrica gale

mike iveson Wed Jul 5 2006

As a person particularly bothered by midges I am interested in growing my own bog myrtle. Are you aware of a source from which I can obtain seeds?

Myrica gale

jojo Sun Jul 23 2006

Super, i love this plant, since I was little I've loved the smell of it. I've always been bothered by midges, but I first learned now that it would help to rub my skin with this amazing plant. I've now ordered the spray from stopbite.com . I hope it will help. I've never liked using deterents containing DEET.

stopbite.com They sell the Bog Myrtle deterent

Myrica gale

myrica gale hinich Fri Sep 8 2006

hello, my name is myrica gale... i was named after this plant, and i feel very fortuate to be named after such a great plant. It is very interesting to learn about its uses and past uses on this site.

Myrica gale

Rich Mon Feb 12 2007

Independent article on Bog Myrtle discusses the commercial use of the plant in Scotland as an esential oil.

Myrica gale

Chef MyKLove Mon Feb 19 2007

have used it as a calming tea recently and also found it made me a little woozy when i smoked it. wondering if anyone knows of any traditional smoking uses for the plant. it smells good when burned!

Myrica gale

Louis Galipeau Tue Feb 27 2007

You can also use this plant to aid in dream recall. I've used it with much success. It was thanks to the Algonquin Tea Co. that I was fortunate enough to make this discovery. You can visit their page about the Myrica Gale: http://www.algonquintea.com/01_teas_01.html

Myrica gale

AkamaiFred Wed Aug 29 2007

I'm looking for a source to buy the plant to grow for ale and tea here in California. Any information would be appreciated.

Myrica gale

Satchiko Sun Sep 30 2007

i'm just wondering if it would be any good stopping mosquitoes?i live in Tokyo and from May till november I get bitten alive everytime I go out on the balcony

Myrica gale

Joss Wed Jul 2 2008

I had a go Brewing Gruit Ale with Bog Myrtle allong with Yarrow and Rosemary, It tasted v.good, a lot more bittersweet and fuller/heavier than ale brewed with hops. You allso get drunk a lot faster!Only made a one gallon batch though. Gona be a lot bigger this year.If Anyone wants to get hold of some seeds just let me know jossratcliffe@gmail.com, there not in season for a while yet but I can keep an eye out for them and I'l stick them on Ebay if anyones intersted.

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