Morella californica Pacific wax myrtle

Leaves and trunk of Morella californica, north of Littlefield Center. Sairus Patel, 4 Jun 2022

Declining Morella californica, north of Littlefield Center (now removed). Sairus Patel, 4 Jun 2022

The finely toothed, willow-like leaves of this large shrub are often aromatic, though curiously not always so; some use them like bay leaves in cooking. Inconspicuous flowers may be followed by waxy, purple-brown fruit.

Many are planted as a rather lush hedge along the south side of the Neurosciences Building. Several are massed atop the berm south of the sand volleyball court, overlooking Zambrano Hall, where they seem to struggle. A planting of eight along the north side of Littlefield Center has declined; the last has been removed. Should the secret to their success at Neurosciences be discovered, more should be trained into tree form to reveal the smooth, silvery bark. In the meantime, one may go to Santa Cruz or Big Basin to see them thriving in their native haunts.

Name derivation: Morella – probably a diminutive of Morus, the mulberry; Myrica – from myrike, the Greek name for Tamarix; californica – of California.