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Characteristics
 Family-
Myricaceae--The Waxmyrtle Family
- Origin
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Native NC
- Plant Description
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Evergreen tree
- Coastal Ecology
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Myrica cerifera is the Southern waxmyrtle. Southern waxmyrtle is a small to large multistemmed shrub, occasionally growing to small tree form. It is found along the dunes, in the maritime forest, adjacent to salt marshes and in fresh water wetland areas. Waxmyrtle is closely entwined in early coastal history, and has lent its name to the town Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and the coastal bird, the Myrtle Warbler. Colonists made bayberry candles by boiling the berries and collecting the floating wax, then pouring it into candle molds or hand-dipping wicks. Crushed leaves of waxmyrtle rubbed on the skin serve as a mosquito repellent, and many coastal residents place waxmyrtle boughs under their beds to repel fleas and other insects. Waxmyrtle leaves placed in the flour bin are said to repel meal moths. The leaves of Southern waxmyrtle persist for two seasons, and are alternate in arrangement and clustered at the ends of the branches. They may or may not bear blunt teeth along the margins. The upper and lowers surface are covered with tiny yellow, circular scales which are best seen with a hand-lens. There are separate male and female plants. Females bear many small, round grayish berries which encircle the stem.
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