Myrtus nivellei

Myrtus nivellei
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Myrtus
Species:
M. nivellei
Binomial name
Myrtus nivellei
Subspecies
  • Myrtus nivellei subsp. nivellei
  • Myrtus nivellei subsp. tibesticus Quézel

Myrtus nivellei, the Saharan myrtle (Tuareg language: tefeltest), is a shrub endemic to the mountains of the central Sahara desert.

Two subspecies are accepted.

The species occurs in small areas of sparse relict woodland at montane elevations above the central Saharan desert plains. It can be found in the Tassili n'Ajjer mountains in southern Algeria and southwestern Libya, and the Tibesti Mountains in northern Chad.

It is used as a traditional medicinal plant by the Tuareg people.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Myrtus nivellei Batt. & Trab". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  2. 1 2 Uicnmed.org: Myrtus nivellei - Batt & Trab. - Myrtaceae . accessed 1.10.2014.