Myrtus, with the common name myrtle, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae, described by Linnaeus in 1753. Over 600 names have been proposed in the genus, but nearly all have either been moved to other genera or been regarded as synonyms. The Myrtus genus has three species recognised today: \n* Myrtus communis — Common myrtle; native to the Mediterranean region in southern Europe. \n* Myrtus nivellei — Saharan myrtle; native to North Africa. \n* Myrtus phyllireaefolia