View source for Myrica cerifera

{{Treatment/ID
|accepted_name=Myrica cerifera
|accepted_authority=Linnaeus
|publications={{Treatment/Publication
|title=Sp. Pl.
|place=2: 1024. 1753
|year=1753
}}
|common_names=Southern bayberry;southern wax-myrtle
|special_status={{Treatment/ID/Special_status
|code=W1
|label=
}}{{Treatment/ID/Special_status
|code=F
|label=Illustrated
}}
|basionyms=
|synonyms={{Treatment/ID/Synonym
|name=Cerophora lanceolata
|authority=Rafinesque
|rank=species
}} {{Treatment/ID/Synonym
|name=Cerothamnus arborescens
|authority=(Castiglioni) Tidestrom
|rank=species
}} {{Treatment/ID/Synonym
|name=Cerothamnus ceriferus
|authority=(Linnaeus) Small
|rank=species
}} {{Treatment/ID/Synonym
|name=Cerothamnus pumilus
|authority=(Michaux) Small
|rank=species
}} {{Treatment/ID/Synonym
|name=Morella cerifera
|authority=(Linnaeus) Small
|rank=species
}} {{Treatment/ID/Synonym
|name=Myrica cerifera var. angustifolia
|authority=Aiton
|rank=variety
}} {{Treatment/ID/Synonym
|name=Myrica cerifera var. arborescens
|authority=Castiglioni
|rank=variety
}} {{Treatment/ID/Synonym
|name=Myrica cerifera var. dubia
|authority=A. Chevalier
|rank=variety
}} {{Treatment/ID/Synonym
|name=Myrica cerifera var. pumila
|authority=Michaux
|rank=variety
}} {{Treatment/ID/Synonym
|name=Myrica pumila
|authority=
|rank=species
}} {{Treatment/ID/Synonym
|name=Myrica pusilla
|authority=
|rank=species
}}
|hierarchy=Myricaceae;Myrica;Myrica cerifera
|hierarchy_nav=<div class="higher-taxa"><div class="higher-taxon"><small>family</small>[[Myricaceae]]</div><div class="higher-taxon"><small>genus</small>[[Myrica]]</div><div class="higher-taxon"><small>species</small>[[Myrica cerifera]]</div></div>
|volume=Volume 3
|mention_page=
|treatment_page=
}}<!--

--><span class="statement" id="st-undefined" data-properties=""><b>Shrubs </b>or small trees, evergreen, often forming large, rhizomatous colonies of much-branched specimens, to 14 m. <b>Branchlets</b> reddish brown, densely gland-dotted when young, otherwise glabrous to densely pilose, eventually glabrate; glands yellow. <b>Leaf</b> blade aromatic when crushed, linear-oblanceolate to obovate, (1.1-)2-10.5(-13.3) × 0.4-3.3 cm, leathery, base cuneate to attenuate, margins entire or coarsely serrate beyond middle, apex acute to slightly rounded; surfaces abaxially pale yellow-green, glabrous except for pilose midrib, adaxially dark green, glabrous to pilose, both surfaces densely glandular; glands yellow to orange. <b>Inflorescences</b>: staminate 0.4-1.9 cm; pistillate 0.3-1.5 cm. <b>Flowers</b> unisexual, staminate and pistillate on different plants. <b>Staminate</b> flowers: bract of flower shorter than staminal column, margins opaque, densely ciliate, abaxially densely gland-dotted; stamens mostly 3-4. <b>Pistillate</b> flowers: bracteoles persistent in fruit, 4, not accrescent or adnate to fruit wall, margins ciliate, abaxially densely gland-dotted; ovary glandular, especially at apex near style base. <b>Fruits</b> globose-ellipsoid, 2-3.5(-4) mm; fruit wall glabrous or sparsely glandular when young, obscured by enlarged protuberances and thick coat of blue-white wax.</span><!--

-->{{Treatment/Body
|phenology=Flowering mid winter–spring, fruiting summer–fall.
|habitat=Bogs, edges of marshes, ponds, creeks, and swamps, pine forests, mixed deciduous forests, pine barrens, coastal sand dunes, open fields, sandy hillsides
|elevation=0-450 m
|distribution=Ala.;Ark.;Del.;Fla.;Ga.;La.;Md.;Miss.;N.J.;N.C.;Okla.;S.C.;Tex.;Va.;Mexico;West Indies;Bermuda;Central America.
|discussion=<p><i>Myrica cerifera</i> is an extremely variable species with respect to habitat and corresponding habit/vegetative morphology. In general, plants that occupy dry, sandy (more xeric) areas tend to be strongly rhizomatous, colonial, and smaller in stature, and to possess smaller leaves (commonly recognized as <i>M. cerifera</i> <i></i>var.<i> pumila</i>). In contrast, plants of more mesic areas are seldom rhizomatous, not colonial, and often large and treelike, and they have larger leaves. These "extremes pass insensibly into each other" (J. W. Thieret 1966). I agree with Thieret's contention that these differences do not constitute reliable criteria upon which one should base taxonomic distinctions. Until it can be determined with certainty whether these differences are due to genetics or environment, the question will remain open. I have chosen the conservative route.</p><!--
--><p><i>Myrica cerifera</i> has often been confused with <i>M. pensylvanica</i> and with <i>M. heterophylla</i>. It is distinguished from <i>M. pensylvanica</i> on the basis of gland density on the leaves, the presence of glands versus hirsute pubescence on the fruit wall and protuberances (especially visible on young fruits), and less reliably on the size of the fruit (2-3.5 versus 3.5-5.5 mm). <i>Myrica cerifera</i> is distinguished from <i>M. heterophylla</i> by the density of the glands on the leaves and the glandular versus glabrous (usually) fruit wall.</p><!--
--><p>Native Americans used a decoction of the leaves and stems of <i>Myrica cerifera</i> to treat fevers; and roots, to treat inflamed tonsils and stomachaches, and as a stimulant (D. E. Moerman 1986).</p>
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-->{{#Taxon:
name=Myrica cerifera
|authority=Linnaeus
|rank=species
|parent rank=genus
|synonyms=Cerophora lanceolata;Cerothamnus arborescens;Cerothamnus ceriferus;Cerothamnus pumilus;Morella cerifera;Myrica cerifera var. angustifolia;Myrica cerifera var. arborescens;Myrica cerifera var. dubia;Myrica cerifera var. pumila;Myrica pumila;Myrica pusilla
|basionyms=
|family=Myricaceae
|phenology=Flowering mid winter–spring, fruiting summer–fall.
|habitat=Bogs, edges of marshes, ponds, creeks, and swamps, pine forests, mixed deciduous forests, pine barrens, coastal sand dunes, open fields, sandy hillsides
|elevation=0-450 m
|distribution=Ala.;Ark.;Del.;Fla.;Ga.;La.;Md.;Miss.;N.J.;N.C.;Okla.;S.C.;Tex.;Va.;Mexico;West Indies;Bermuda;Central America.
|reference=None
|publication title=Sp. Pl.
|publication year=1753
|special status=W1;Illustrated
|source xml=https://bitbucket.org/aafc-mbb/fna-data-curation/src/2e0870ddd59836b60bcf96646a41e87ea5a5943a/coarse_grained_fna_xml/V3/V3_1131.xml
|genus=Myrica
|species=Myrica cerifera
}}<!--

-->[[Category:Treatment]][[Category:Myrica]]