waxmyrtle Myricaceae Morella cerifera (L.) Small symbol: MOCE2 Leaf: Alternate, evergreen, simple, fragrant, spatulate in shape with a tapered base, 3 inches long, 5/8 inch wide, toothed, dark green and waxy-shiny above, pale green below, yellow resin dots on both surfaces. Flower: Species is dioecious; both male and female flowers are small (1/2 inch), appearing as catkins in the leaf axils in spring. Fruit: Round, waxy bluish-white drupes (1/8 inch in diameter), appearing in clusters on short stalks. Twig: Slender and brittle, covered with brown pubescence, becoming smooth and gray-brown with age. Bark: Thin and smooth, gray-brown. Form: Small tree or large shrub, often multi-stemmed and growing in clusters, generally rounded or irregular in shape, with a crooked or twisting bole. Looks like: northern bayberry - odorless bayberry - sweetgale Additional Range Information: Morella cerifera is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See states reporting waxmyrtle. External Links: USDAFS Additional Silvics USDA Plants Database Horticulture © Copyright 2014, Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, all rights reserved. Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson