Morella cerifera

Leaves widest near the tip and teeth near tip. Orange resinous glands or dots on top and bottom of leaf. Leaves have a spicy smell when crushed.

The following information for the family Myricaceae: Animals that eat the fruit: Eastern dowitcher, King rail, Yellow rail, Ruffed grouse, Bobwhite quail, Wild turkey, Bluebird, Catbird, Carolina chickadee, Chestnut-backed chickadee, Common crow, Fish crow, Yellow-shafted flicker, Boat-tailed grackle, Meadowlark, Mockingbird, Phoebe, Brown thrasher, Hermit thrush, Tufted titmouse, White-eyed vireo, Myrtle warbler, Red-bellied woodpecker, Red-cockaded woodpecker, Carolina wren, Gray fox. Animals that eat the plant: White-tailed deer (Martin et al. 1951).

The Acadians of south Louisiana call this shrub "cirier," which is the traditional French name for any plant that produces wax. Wax-myrtle is an important transitional shrub and native invader of prairie communities especially where low, wet forests grade gadually into prairie (Marks and Harcombe 1981). It grows along streams, lakes, and in wet grasslands and woodlands of Louisiana and east Texas. It ranges from Florida, west to Texas, and north to New Jersey.

Moist forest; marshes; fresh to slightly brackish stream banks; swamps. Also used as an ornamental.

Berries can be boiled down to use as candle wax.