Premise of the study : The development of microsatellite markers was conducted in the Mediterranean common shrub Myrtus communis (myrtle) to assess levels of genetic diversity and patterns of gene flow across fragmented landscapes in southern Spain. Methods and Results : Fourteen primer pairs were isolated showing clear and consistent patterns of amplification, three of which were apparently monomorphic. Levels of polymorphism in the other 11 markers were checked in 48 individuals from two populations. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 3 to 11 and the total number of alleles was 83. Conclusions : These highly polymorphic markers will allow us to improve our understanding of the genetic consequences of chronic fragmentation in Mediterranean landscapes.