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Myrica

Myrica
Family: Myricaceae
Myrica image
  • FNA
  • Gleason & Cronquist
  • Resources
Allan J. Bornstein in Flora of North America (vol. 3)
Shrubs or small trees , often aromatic and resinous. Branches spreading, terete, glabrous or pubescent, often gland-dotted. Leaves persistent or deciduous; stipules absent. Leaf blade aromatic when crushed (except M . inodora ), oblanceolate, elliptic, obovate, or oblong-ovate, membranous or leathery, margins entire or serrate-denticulate, especially in distal 1/2, pubescent or glabrous, usually gland-dotted. Inflorescences ± erect, ellipsoid to short-cylindric or ovoid, appearing before or with leaves; bracts ovate, glabrous or variously pubescent. Flowers unisexual, rarely bisexual, staminate and pistillate flowers usually on different plants, infrequently on same plants. Staminate flowers: stamens (2-)3-12(-22), shorter or longer than subtending bract; filaments mostly distinct, often connate into branching staminal column, each branch terminated by anther; rudimentary ovary occasionally present. Pistillate flowers: ovary subtended by 2-6 broadly ovate bracteoles, these sometimes persistent and accrescent, always shorter than fruit, sometimes completely absent; styles short. Fruits globose or ovoid to lenticular, smooth or more commonly with warty protuberances, usually covered with waxy coating that dries white. x = 8.

Myrica is often cultivated. Myrica species were used by various tribes of Native Americans for medicinal purposes. Leaves were used for a gynecological aid and an emetic; the bark, as a blood purifier and a kidney aid (D. E. Moerman 1986). Bayberry candles were used by early settlers, and they remain popular household items, both decorative and functional.

Vascular plants of NE US and adjacent Canada
Pistillate fl subtended by a primary bract and 2-6 bracteoles, the latter persistent or deciduous, often resembling tiny sep, not forming a bur; ovary glabrous, or often covered with waxy papillae, sometimes also hairy, ripening into an achene or drupelet; aromatic shrubs or small trees, ours all dioecious, with entire or merely toothed, exstipulate lvs. (Cerothamnus, Gale, Morella) Spp. 2-4 are closely related and not always sharply distinct. Nearly 50, widespread

Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

©The New York Botanical Garden. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Species within checklist: NYC EcoFlora - cultivated and such
Myrica aspleniifolia
Media resource of Myrica aspleniifolia
Map not
Available
Myrica caroliniensis
Media resource of Myrica caroliniensis
Map not
Available
Myrica heterophylla
Media resource of Myrica heterophylla
Map not
Available
Myrica pensylvanica
Media resource of Myrica pensylvanica
Map not
Available
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This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services [MG-70-19-0057-19].

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