MYRICA CERIFERA. 
Wax Myrtle. 
PLATE XLIII. 
Aunosr every region of the United States 
produces varieties of the Wax myrtle. Michaux 
considers them all as belonging to one species, a 
conclusion which is warranted. by the great num- 
ber of intermediate sizes, and forms of leaf, which 
may be observed between the different extremes. 
Pursh, however, has chosen to distinguish three 
species which bear wax, and which he names 
cerifera after Linnzus, Caroliniensis from Will. 
denow, and Pennsylvanica from Lamarck. The 
Wax myrtle or Bayberry, as it is often called, 
which is common in New England, varies in 
height from one to seven or eight feet. It is 
found in every kind of soil from the borders of 
swamps to the tops of barren hills, and is very 
much influenced in its size and appearance, by 
the place in which it happens to grow. 
