Past,present and future utilisation ofMyrica gale (Myricaceae)

The development ofM. gale oil as an insect repellent has created a requirement for cultivation of the plant. Botanical evidence indicates thatM. gale is likely to thrive on well—aerated acid peatland and could become a valuable crop on land of low agricultural value. Plant growth would be enhanced by the prevention of grazing and could be combined with softwood forestry since the trees would benefit from soil nitrogen enrichment thanks to the symbiotic association ofM. gale andFrankia. The economics of oil production would be improved if additional compounds of value such as pharmacologically active fiavonoids could be extracted from the by-products.