Morella californica (Cham.) Wilbur
California wax-myrtle
Myricaceae (Bayberry family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Gary Lewis     (Photo ID #5271)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Morella californica
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Introduction

This species is found in a single locale in BC.

Species Information

General:
Shrub or small tree, 2-6 m tall; stems spreading, hairy and finely wax-dotted when young, glabrous at maturity.
Leaves:
Alternate, evergreen, oblanceolate, 5-8 cm long, entire to coarsely toothed, glabrous above, finely black-dotted and hairy below, usually sharp-pointed, aromatic.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of male and female flowers in spikes on the same plant; male spikes 5 mm long, the male flowers with 3-12 stamens, the filaments more or less fused, often bracteate, exceeding the subtending bract; female spikes 1-2 cm long, the main bract larger than the 2 subtending bracteoles.
Fruits:
Nutlets, winged, 4-8 mm long, round, strongly warty and waxy.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

USDA Species Characteristics

Flower Colour:
Yellow
Blooming Period:
Early Summer
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Blue
Present from Summer to Fall
Source:  The USDA

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Morella californica

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
3 3 3
Slope Gradient (%)
5 5 5

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

220 220 220
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
1
Modal BEC Zone Class
CWH

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

CWH(1)

Habitat and Range

Mesic to moist shoreline thickets, beaches, clearings and roadsides in the lowland zone; rare in SW BC, known only from the Tofino-Ucluelet area; S to CA.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Myrica californica Cham.