River Trail Stop 9

Wax myrtle can be found in a diversity of habitats on Cumberland Island

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Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

Stop #9: Wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera) Wax Myrtle is the small shrubby plant surrounding post number 9. Its leaves are light to dark green and are skinny, elongated leaves, with slight toothing near the edge. This evergreen shrub is found in the dunes as well as the forest. It is salt tolerant and can be found living in coastal environments that are relatively harsh such as the marsh-forest transition zone. Aromatic wax myrtle leaves and aromatic and when crushed the oils  were rubbed on the skin as an insect repellent. To protect against the salt spray, the berries of the wax myrtle are coated with a layer of wax. Colonial Europeans gathered these berries and melted the wax layer off to make candles.