Myrica pilulifera Rendle

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Just outside Bunga Forest, Vumba

Photo: Bart Wursten
Cecil Kop Nature Reserve, Mutare

Photo: Bart Wursten
Western slope Mt Shangani, eastern Chimanimani Mts.

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Synonyms:	Morella pilulifera (Rendle) Killick
Common names:	Broad-leaved waxberry (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Shrub or small tree. Leaves elliptic to obovate, usually c. 7 × 3 cm, yellowish-green, leathery, velvety when young, becoming glabrescent later, lateral veins ridged, Y-shaped near the margin; margin entire or coarsely serrate. Flowers in catkin-like inflorescences, sexes separate on the same tree or on different trees. Fruit in dense clusters of small brown to black berries along the branches, c. 4-5 mm in diameter, spherical, coated in waxy substance.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	pilulifera: bearing small balls, glands or globular structures; probably referring to the fruit
Habitat:	Near streams, among rocks, on grassy hills and along the margins of forest.
Altitude range:	1050 - 2070 m
Flowering time:	Jul - Sep
Worldwide distribution:	Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and South Africa as far as the KwaZulu-Natal
Mozambique distribution:	Z,T,MS
Growth form(s):	Tree, shrub over 2 m.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Friday 29 July 2016
Literature:	Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 64. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 39. Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 124. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 233. As Myrica pilulifera Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 63. Polhill, R.M. & Verdcourt, B. (2006). Myricaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(3) Pages 260 - 261. Steedman, E.C. (1933). Some Trees, Shrubs and Lianes of Southern Rhodesia. Page 3. as Myrica pilulifera Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 125. Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 96.

Other sources of information about Myrica pilulifera:

Our websites:

Flora of Malawi: Myrica pilulifera
Flora of Zimbabwe: Myrica pilulifera

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Myrica pilulifera
African Plant Database: Myrica pilulifera
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Myrica pilulifera
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Myrica pilulifera
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Myrica pilulifera
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Myrica pilulifera
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Myrica pilulifera
JSTOR Plant Science: Myrica pilulifera
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Myrica pilulifera
Plants of the World Online: Myrica pilulifera
Tropicos: Myrica pilulifera
Wikipedia: Myrica pilulifera