Getting to Know Herbs: Northern Bayberry

krnel (78)in #gardening • 6 years ago (edited)

The northern bayberry is a beauty in the winter landscape, growing to ten feet tall with glossy green aromatic leaves. The plant is a useful border cover, and the leaves can be added as a flavoring. It has bluish-black berries that are not too edible, as they have a large seed, and they are covered in wax. The wax has been used to make candles. It also has some medicinal use despite some safety concerns.

_{Photo by @krnel}

The scientific botanical name for is northern bayberry is Myrica pensylvanica, and also Morella pensylvanica for the same species. Other names for the bayberry include Árbol de Cera, Arbre à Cire, Candleberry, Cirier de Pennsylvanie, Morella caroliniensis, Morella cerifera, Myrica, Myrica caroliniensis, Myrica cerifera, Myrica heterophylla, Myrica pumila, Myrique de Pennsylvanie, Southern Bayberry, Southern Wax Myrtle, Tallow Shrub, Vegetable Tallow, Wax Myrtle, Waxberry.

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Key Points

native to eastern North America
not very edible, but can be
wax covered and used to make candles
low medicinal use

_Source

Where is it found?

The northern bayberry is native to North America, from the most eastern part in Newfoundland, over to the west in Ontario and Ohio, and down south to North Carolina.

It can be found in coastal dunes, pine barrens, forests, old fields, bogs, edges of streams, ponds and swamps.

What's it used for?

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked, but there is very little edible flesh given it's huge seed, and it's of poor quality with all the wax in it. Leaves and fruits can be added to cooking for flavoring, and is used as a bay leaf substitute and removed from food when served.

The wax can be extracted by scalding the fruit with boiling water for a few minutes and then collecting the wax from skimming the top. Boiling the fruit and pulp can recover more wax. Strained in a cloth, it can be made into aromatic candle with can be brittle. The wax can be used in making soaps. The leaves can be used to make a green dye.

It can be used to treat head colds, painful and swollen intestines (colitis), diarrhea, and nausea. Large amounts induce vomiting. It can be gargled to treat sore throats. Applied to skin to treat ulcers and wounds.

Are there any risks?

Large amounts can cause nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and liver damage. It's considered to be carcinogenic as well due to a chemical within. It should be avoided by pregnant women and those breast-feeding.

People with high blood pressure can be affected due to salt retention in the body, retaining fluids and building up blood pressure.

References:

Thank you for your time and attention. Peace.

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