How do you propagate Myrica Gale?
Propagation: Sweet Gale seeds are best sown in autumn as soon as they are ripe. Stored seed should be given a 3-month cold stratification period. Heel cuttings of half-ripe wood can be taken in July/August– or of mature wood in November/December. It can also be propagated by layering or division.
How do you plant bog myrtle seeds?
The seeds naturally have a waxy surface – the wax should be washed off with detergent and the seeds should be rinsed with clear water. Bog is a frost germinator. As a result, sow them either in autumn or stratify for 3 months at cold temperatures (also possible in the refrigerator) and sow them then.
What is bog myrtle used for?
Myrica gale (Bog Myrtle) leaf oil – Highlanders have long valued the blue-green leaves of bog myrtle. It has been used to flavour Ale (beer), and the beautifully fragrant leaves used to keep away midges. A sprig of Bog Myrtle would be tucked behind the ear or in a hat as a repellant to keep the midges at bay.
Is Myrtle the same as bog myrtle?
Myrica gale is a species of flowering plant in the family Myricaceae, native to parts of Japan, North Korea, Russia, mainland Europe, the British Isles and parts of northern North America, in Canada and the United States. Common names include bog-myrtle, sweet willow, Dutch myrtle, and sweetgale.
Where does Myrica gale grow?
Sweetgale or Bog Myrtle (Myrica gale) is a deciduous aromatic shrub that grows in marshes, bogs, and the edges of lakes and ponds in the Adirondack Mountains.
Is Myrica gale Evergreen?
The foliage of plants in the Myricaceae can be deciduous or evergreen, and the leaves are commonly fragrant when crushed. The flowers are small and occur in catkin-like inflorescences, which are made up of either male (staminate) or female (pistillate) flowers.
Is bog myrtle hallucinogenic?
But he warned people against trying home-made Bog Myrtle concoctions – especially because unpurified the shrub contains hallucinogens and carcinogens. “The Vikings are said to have made themselves crazy with Bog Myrtle infusions before going into battle,” he added.
What does bog myrtle look like?
The male flowers or catkins emerge from upright, orange-brown buds that are about 1 cm in length, and have distinctive bracts or scales in between the pollen-producing stamens. Female flowers are smaller and have several red tufts on them, and look somewhat similar to the female flowers of hazel (Corylus avellana).
What is sweet gale used for?
Sweet gale is an herb. The leaves, branches, and wax are used to make medicine. People take sweet gale for digestion problems. In Sweden, a strong brew of sweet gale dried bark is used to treat intestinal worms and to relieve itching.
What does Myrtle stand for?
The most common meaning is love and fidelity, as well as courage. It also represents peace, tranquility, and good luck in some cultures. Myrtle flowers have been used for centuries in wreaths during Roman festivals honoring Venus and Minerva.
Is Myrica gale a light loving plant?
Myrica gale is often associated with oceanic climates, where rainfall can approach 2000 mm per year with at least 200 wet days in any given year. Ellenberg (1988) classifies M. gale as a light loving plant, rarely found where there is less than 40% relative light.
How many varieties of Myrica are there?
One variety, Myrica gale L. var. tomentosa C. D.C., is recognized. Native, in bogs, wet heaths and fens. A distinctive member of the British flora, particularly in spring, with its striking red-brown buds, red catkins and flowers.
Where are the Myricaceae found?
Mapped by Mrs J. M. Croft, Biological Records Centre, Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, mainly from records collected by members of the Botanical Society of the British Isles. The Myricaceae are distributed world-wide on all the major land masses, with the exception of Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica ( MacDonald 1989 ).
Where is Myrica found in the UK?
It is a lowland plant with the highest occurrence in oceanic regions, ascending to 370 m in the Lake District, England, 430 m near Capel Curig, Wales, 460 m on Brandon, Kerry, Ireland, and 520 m in the Forest of Drumochter, Scotland (Alt. Range Br. Pl.). The distribution of Myrica gale in the British Isles. (○) Pre-1950; (●) 1950 onwards.
