The Wax Myrtle, a native that is a common inhabitant of the Flatwoods, forms a shrub or small tree. Wax myrtle is particularly adapted to the drought/deluge nature of the florida climate and can also tolerate some salt in the water. The roots of the Wax Myrtle harbor symbiotic bacteria that fix nitrogen in the nutrient-poor soil.
The leaves produce aromatic resins that have insect repellant properties and can be used as a spice or steeped for a medicinal tea that the Native Americans used to alleve various ailments. The leaves are used in herbal beers instead of hops and also facilitate foaming in the beer..
Wax Myrtles have separate male and female plants. The flowers are small and close to the stems and the fruit that has a waxy coating around a single seed. This wax has been used to make bayberry scented candles and soap. The fruit is particularly rich in energy and are rellished by swallows during migration.
On the other side of the trail is a stand of Downy Rose Myrtle, an invasive from asia. If you are visiting in the spring, the bushes will be covered with beautiful pink flowers. You can see here that it grows in dense stands which crowds out native vegetation, such as the Wax Myrtle. The leaves have a distinctive vein pattern (seen in the picture) and are covered with a soft pubescence. The blueberry-like fruit can be used in jams and pies. There can be as many as 200 tiny seeds in one berry that are dispersed by birds and animals.
