Myrica

Myrica faya

Myrica is a genus of the family of bog myrtle family ( Myricaceae ). The genus is almost spread throughout the world, it only lacks in Australia and some warm temperate areas of the Old World.

Features

The Myrica species are evergreen or deciduous trees or shrubs. They are dioecious or monoecious. At young plant parts resinous, peltate glands are present. The leaves are simple and often heaped on the shoot tips. The leaf margin is wholly or sawed.

The flowers appear before or during the leaves sprout. The inflorescence is ährig, simple or rispenartig. Male flowers usually have two to eight, rarely to 20 stamens. The stamens are free or fused at the base, bracteoles are present or absent. The female flowers have two to four bracts. These have grown into an ovary and extended, or free and are not renewed. The ovary has resinous glands. The pens are short and have two relatively long, scarred branches on.

The stone fruits are often covered with head-like, wax- covered papillae. The endocarp is hard. The seeds are erect, their skin is like a membrane.

System

The genus includes about 50 species ( selection):

  • Myrica adenophora
  • Myrica californica
  • Myrica cerifera
  • Myrica esculenta
  • Myrica faya ( Gagel Tree)
  • Myrica gale ( bog myrtle )
  • Myrica hartwegii
  • Myrica heterophylla
  • Myrica inodora
  • Myrica nana
  • Myrica pensylvanica
  • Myrica rubra

Documents

  • Lu Anmin and Allan J. Bornstein: Myricaceae (PDF, 56 kB). In: ZY Wu and PH Raven Flora of China, Volume 4, Science Press, Beijing, and Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis, 1999, pp. 275-276. .
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