164 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 



19. MYRICACEAE. Bayberry Family. 



1. MYRICA L. Sp. PI. 1024. 17.53. 

 Reference : Chevalier, Mem. Soc. Sci. Nat. Cherbourg 32 : 85-340. 1001. 

 Shrubs or small trees ; leaves alternate, estipulate, covered with small 

 glands; flowers very small, dioecious, in axillary spikes; fruit small, globose, 

 covered with whitish wax. 



Chevalier reports a specimen of M. hartivegi S. Wats., collected by Pav6n, 

 from Mexico. It is probable that the collection is incorrectly labeled, for that 

 species is confined to California and Oregon, and its known area of distribution 

 is far removed from the Mexican border. Several species of bayberry occur in 

 the United States. 

 Leaf blades narrowly oblanceolate or oblong-oblanceolate, 5 to 9 cm. long, acute 



to attenuate 1. M. mexicana. 



Leaf blades obovate, 1.5 to 4 cm. long, rounded to acutish at the apex. 



2. M. pringlei. 

 1. Myrica mexicana Willd. Enum. PI. 2: 1011. 1809. 

 Myrica xalapensis H. B. K. Nov. Gen. & Sp. 2: 10. 1817. 

 Myrica lindeniana C. DC. in DC. Prodr. 16': 1.50. 1864. 

 Jalisco to Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Yucatan, and Chiapas. Guatemala. 

 Shrub or small tree, 2 to 6 meters high ; leaves entire or with a few coarse 

 teeth. "Arbol de la cera " (Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Veracruz, etc.) ; " huancanaia " 

 (Veracruz, Oaxaca, etc.) ; " chac olol " (Chiapas, Seler). 



Myrica lindeniana is considered a distinct species by Chevalier. It is said to 

 differ in having the leaves dentate above the middle, those of M. mexicana being 

 entire or dentate only at the apex. The writer has seen no specimens that are 

 certainly referable to M. lindeniana, but in view of the fact that the leaves of 

 M. mexicana are sometimes coarsely dentate, it does not seem probable that the 

 former is a valid species. 



This is a well-known plant in Mexico because of the wax that is obtained 

 from the fruit. The shrub often occurs in great abundance, forming extensive 

 thickets, and the fruit can be gathered in quantity. It is boiled in water, 

 whereupon the wax rises to the surface and is skimmed off. The crude wax is 

 greenish, or often very dark from impurities, but it may be bleached or purified 

 until it is nearly white. It is not uncommon in the markets of Mexico City. It is 

 used for caudles, which burn slowly, with very little smoke, emitting a pleasant 

 balsamic odor. It is used also as a substitute for or adulterant of beeswax, 

 and has been tested for making phonograph records. Small quantities have been 

 exported. The aromatic leaves also contain wax, but only in small quantities. 



The wax is a popular remedy, taken internally, for jaundice and diarrhoea. 

 A decoction of the root bark is said to be acrid, astringent, and in lai-ge doses 

 emetic. 

 2. Myrica pringlei Greenm. Proc. Amer. Acad. 41 : 236. 1905. 



Myrica parvifolia confusa Chevalier, Mem. Soc. Sci. Nat. Cherbourg 32: 285. 



1901. 

 Hidalgo, Puebla, and Oaxaca; type from "Honey Station," Puebla, in pine 

 forest, altitude 1,740 meters. 



Shrub 0.3 to 1 meter high, similar to the preceding species. " Chilpanxo- 

 huilt" (Puebla, B^errera). 

 This species also produces wax. 



