Bog myrtle has an interesting natural distribution in the south-west, it has only two strongholds – throughout the New Forest and much of Dorset, and mid-Cornwall focused on the Goss moor. It is totally absent from Bodmin moor and Exmoor. There are a few other smaller locations where it turns-up – scattered locations on Dartmoor; around Glastonbury; and around Honiton.
Myrica gale has quite a reputation for its ability to repel midges and fleas by its very strong aroma, and has been used many times in the past and even recent past for such duty, due to the odorous resin it contains. The entrancing sweet-smelling resin comes in evidence when the leaves are crushed between the fingers.
The flowers are borne in catkins, the male are orange and angled upwards, the female are red and drooping; it is (usually) dioecious with male and female flowers on separate plants, but occasionally monoecious with both male and female flowers (catkins) on the same plant. Individual plants are also known to have changed sex from year to year.
A yellow dye which was formerly used in tanning can be extracted from Bog Myrtle. It was a traditional medicine with uses against parasites and to treat skin disorders and gonorrhea - also used as a diuretic.
Bog myrtle grows only in wettish peaty soils typical of upland acidic bogs where nitrogen levels are low; but it has nitrogen-fixing Frankia actinobacteria within its root system and is thus able to fix atmospheric nitrogen from the air which allows it to flourish in this nitrogen-poor environment. Bog myrtle is one of the few plants capable of this feat apart from the well-known ability of certain members of the Pea Family (Fabaceae) which can also accomplish this task.
It is almost certainly declining in the south west and ought to be planted more often.
