Morella cerifera
| Morella cerfiera | |
|---|---|
| |
| Photo by Karan A. Rawlins, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Tracheophyta- Vascular plants |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons |
| Order: | Fagales |
| Family: | Myricaceae |
| Genus: | Morella |
| Species: | M. cerfiera |
| Binomial name | |
| Morella cerfiera (L.) Small | |
| |
| Natural range of Morella cerfiera from USDA NRCS Plants Database. | |
Common names: Common waxmyrtle; Southern bayberry
Contents
Taxonomic notes
Synonyms: Myrica cerifera L.; Myrica cerifera Linnaeus var. cerifera; Morella cerifera (Linnaeus) Small; Cerothamnus ceriferus (Linnaeus) Small
Description
"Dioecious or monoecious shrubs or small trees, with brown to brownish-black, pubescent to glabrate twigs. Leaves deciduous or semi-evergreen, coriaceous, petiolate, exstipulate. Staminate catkins ovoid-cylindric, 0.6-2 cm long, 4-6 mm in diam.; bracteate and bracteolate; stamens 2-1, mostly 2-5. Pistillate catkins ovoid or cylindric, 5-10 mm long, deciduous-bracteate. Fruits drupaceous, white, globose, verrucose, 2.5-7 mm in diam. A taxonomically difficult group with intergrading species." [1]
"Shrub or small tree, 0.3-7 m tall. Leaves oblanceolate or elliptic, to 8 cm long and 2cm wide, heavily resinous on both surfaces, usually pubescent beneath, acute or obtuse, serrate or entire, base cuneate to attenuate, petioles to 1 cm long. Fruits 2.5-3.5 mm in diam." [1]
Distribution
Is found within the Coastal Plain and as far north as New Jersey. [2]
Ecology
Habitat
Is naturally found in interdune swales, pocosins, brackish marshes, and other wet to moist habitats. [2] Is widely planted as an ornamental or as a landscaping shrub. [2]
M. cerifera responds positively to agricultural-based soil disturbance in South Carolina coastal plain communities. This marks it as an indicator species for post-agricultural woodland.[3] However, M. cerifera responds negatively to heavy silvilculture in North Florida[4] and both positively and negatively to soil disturbance by clearcutting and roller chopping in North Florida.[5] It also responds negatively to soil disturbance by clearcutting and chopping in North Florida flatwoods forests.[6] M. cerifera responds negatively to soil disturbance by roller chopping and negatively or not at all to disturbance by a KG blade in East Texas Loblolly Pine-Hardwood Forests.[7]
Phenology
Flowers in April, and also from August to October. [2]
Conservation and management
Cultivation and restoration
Photo Gallery
References and notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Radford, Albert E., Harry E. Ahles, and C. Ritchie Bell. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. 1964, 1968. The University of North Carolina Press. 360. Print.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Weakley, Alan S. Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States: Working Draft of 21 May 2015. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU). PDF. 644.
- ↑ Brudvig, L.A., E Grman, C.W. Habeck, and J.A. Ledvina. (2013). Strong legacy of agricultural land use on soils and understory plant communities in longleaf pine woodlands. Forest Ecology and Management 310: 944-955.
- ↑ Conde, L.F., B.F. Swindel, and J.E. Smith. (1986). Five Years of Vegetation Changes Following Conversion of Pine Flatwoods to Pinus elliottii Plantations. Forest Ecology and Management 15(4):295-300.
- ↑ Lewis, C.E., G.W. Tanner, and W.S. Terry. (1988). Plant responses to pine management and deferred-rotation grazing in north Florida. Journal of Range Management 41(6):460-465.
- ↑ Moore, W.H., B.F. Swindel, and W.S. Terry. (1982). Vegetative Response to Clearcutting and Chopping in a North Florida Flatwoods Forest. Journal of Range Management 35(2):214-218.
- ↑ Stransky, J.J., J.C. Huntley, and Wanda J. Risner. (1986). Net Community Production Dynamics in the Herb-Shrub Stratum of a Loblolly Pine-Hardwood Forest: Effects of CLearcutting and Site Preparation. Gen. Tech. Rep. SO-61. New Orleans, LA: U.S. Dept of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station. 11 p.
