bayberry medicinally. The root bark was pounded into powder and mixed with water to cure diarrhea. American pioneers sniffed the powder to counter nasal congestion. It was sometimes used in poultices. The wax coating on the fruit of several species, known as bayberry wax, has been used traditionally to make candles. It was used for that purpose by the Robinson family in the novel The Swiss Family Robinson. The foliage of Myrica gale is a traditional insect repellent, used by campers to keep biting insects out of tents. Several species are also grown as ornamental plants in gardens. The fruit of Myrica rubra is an economically important crop in China, sold fresh, dried, canned, for juice, for flavoring in snacks, and for alcoholic beverages. Myrica is used to spice beer and snaps in Denmark. The leaves can add flavor to soups and broths. They can be dried and stored in jars to be used as a spice. Species Myrica comprises the following species: Myrica adenophora Hance Myrica arborea Hutch. Myrica brevifolia E. Mey. ex C. DC. Myrica cacuminis Britton & P.Wilson Myrica californica Cham. & Schltdl. – California bayberry Myrica caroliniensis Mill. southern bayberry Myrica cerifera L. – wax-myrtle, southern wax-myrtle Myrica chevalieri (Parra-Os.) Christenh. & Byng Myrica chimanimaniana (Verdc. & Polhill) Christenh. & Byng Myrica cordifolia L. Myrica dentulata Baill. Myrica diversifolia Adamson Myrica esculenta Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don Myrica faya Aiton – faya bayberry Myrica funckii A.Chev. Myrica gale L. – sweet gale or bog-myrtle Myrica goetzei Engl. Myrica hartwegii S.Watson – Sierra bayberry Myrica heterophylla Raf. Myrica holdridgeana Lundell Myrica humilis Cham. Myrica inodora W.Bartram – scentless bayberry Myrica integra (A.Chev.) Killick Myrica integrifolia Roxb. Myrica interrupta Benth. Myrica javanica Blume Myrica kandtiana Engl. Myrica kilimandscharica Engl. Myrica kraussiana Buchinger ex Meisn. Myrica lindeniana C.DC. Myrica meyeri-johannis Engl. Myrica microbracteata Weim. Myrica mildbraedii Engl. Myrica nana A.Chev. Myrica parvifolia Benth. Myrica pavonis C.DC. Myrica pensylvanica Mirb. – northern bayberry Myrica phanerodonta Standl. Myrica picardae Krug & Urb. Myrica pilulifera Rendle Myrica pringlei Greenm. Myrica pubescens Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd. Myrica punctata Griseb. Myrica quercifolia L. Myrica rotundata Steyerm. & Maguire Myrica rubra Siebold & Zucc. – yang mei, Chinese bayberry, yumberry Myrica salicifolia Hochst. ex A.Rich. Myrica serrata Lam. Myrica shaferi Urb. & Britton Myrica singularis Parra-Os. Myrica spathulata Mirb. Species names with uncertain taxonomic status The status of the following species and hybrids is unresolved: Morella