10 



MISC. PUBLICATION 77, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



BAYBERRY 



(1) Myrica cerifera L.; (2) M. carolinensis Mill. (Fig. 13.) 



Other common names.— (1) Southern waxmyrtle, waxberry, tallow berry, 

 candleberry, tallow shrub, candleberry myrtle; (2) northern bay berry, small 

 waxberry. 



Habitat and range. — The bayberry is native in sandy swamps or wet woods 

 from New Brunswick south to Florida. Myrica cerifera is found as far west 

 as Texas and Arkansas, while M. carolinensis is common in bogs in northern 

 New Jersey and Pennsylvania. 



Description. — The southern waxmyrtle is a shrub or slender tree up to 40 

 feet high. The leaves are from 1 to 4 inches long, narrow, wedge-shaped, entire 

 or with a few teeth, and have a fragrant odor when crushed. The flowers appear 

 from March to May, according to locality, generally before the leaves are fully 

 expanded. Male and female flowers are borne on separate trees, the male flowers 

 in cylindrical yellow clusters and the female flowers in green, somewhat shorter 

 clusters. The fruit, which remains on the tree for several years, consists of 

 clusters of round, 1-seeded, somewhat berrylike nuts covered with a whitish wax. 

 Northern bayberry is a shrub 8 feet high or less, with broader and blunter leaves. 



Part used. — The bark of the root, collected in late autumn. After thorough 

 cleansing and while still fresh the bark is loosened and removed by heating the 

 rOot. The wax obtained from the berries, used for making bayberry candles, 

 is also an article of commerce. In reasonablv constant demand. 



Figure 13.— Northern bayberry {Myrica caroli- 

 nensis) 



Figure 14.— Bearberry (Arctostaphylos 

 uca-ursi) 



BEARBERRY 



Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. (Fig. 14.) 



Other common names. — Uva-ursi, red bearberry, bear's-grape, bear's bilberry, 

 bear's whortleberry, foxberry, upland cranberry, mountain cranberry, crow- 

 berry, mealberry, rockberry, mountain box, kinnikinnic, killikinnic, universe 

 vine, brawlins, burren myrtle, creashak, sagachomi, rapper dandies (fruit). 



Habitat and range. — Bearberry, also commonly known in the trade as uva- 

 ursi, is a native of this country, growing in dry sandy or rocky soil from the 

 Middle Atlantic States north to Labrador and westward to California and 

 Alaska. 



Description. — The bearberry is a low, much-branched shrub trailing over the 

 ground and having numerous leathery evergreen leaves about 1 inch in length. 

 The waxy flowers, which appear in May, are few and are borne in short, drooping 

 clusters at the ends of the branches. They are white with a pinkish tinge, 

 5-lobed, and somewhat bell-shaped in form. Smooth, red, globular fruits con- 

 taining five nutlets follow the flowers. 



Part used. — The leaves, collected in autumn. In limited demand only. 



