Myrica gale L. - Accepted: Myrica gale L. bei Zander 2008; Familie: Myricaceae (Zander 2008)
Myrica gale L. - Accepted: Myrica gale L. bei The Plant List (2010); Familie: Myricaceae (APG III)
Myrica gale L. - Accepted: Myrica gale L. bei The Plant List (2014), version 1.1; Familie: Myricaceae (APG III)
Myrica gale L. - Accepted: Myrica gale L. bei The Plant List (2014), version 1.1; Familie: Myricaceae (APG IV)
Myrica gale L. - Accepted: Myrica gale L. bei BfN Checklist Flora DE; Familie: Myricaceae (APG IV)

Color of flower

male flowers greenish, female flowers brownish

Flowers

dioecious; flowers of male and female plants in catkins

Flower ecology

wind-pollinated (anemophilous)

Life form

shrub

Leaves

oblanceolate, alternate, with yellow resin glands

Foliage persistence

deciduous

Fruits

drupe

Fruit ecology

bird-dispersed (ornithochorous, endozoochorous)

Soil conditions

preferentially on moist to wet, mainly acid, well-aerated soils

Natural occurrence (habitat)

wet heathlands, bog margins, willow swamps

Comment to ecology

root symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing actinomycetes

Vegetation typ and synecology (plant community)

character species of the Myricetum (within Salicion cinereae); also in Molinia-Myrica communities

Constraints according moisture

tolerant of waterlogging

Chemical characters

leaves contain myricetin and other flavonoids

Chemical and pharmaceutical usage – short

"myrtle tree"; leaves as a tea and coction; against respiratory ailments and skin complaints

Hildegard von Bingen

"myrtle tree"; leaves as a tea and coction; against respiratory ailments and skin complaints

Usage

the aromatic leaves and fruits are used as condiment and flavour enhancer for soups and other meals ("piment royal"), formerly also used for flavouring beer; from the dried leaves a good tasting tea can be made; the leaves are an effective insect repellent

Erhardt, W., Götz, E., Bödeker, N. & Seybold, S. (2008): Der große Zander. Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen. Band 2. Arten und Sorten. Eugen Ulmer KG, Stuttgart (Hohenheim), 18. Aufl., 2103 S.;

Jäger, E. (Hrsg.) (2011): Rothmaler - Exkursionsflora von Deutschland. Gefäßpflanzen: Grundband. Band 2. Springer Spektrum Verlag, 20., neu bearb. u. wesentl. erw. Aufl.: 944 S. 978-3-8274-1606-3.;

Oberdorfer, E. (2001): Pflanzensoziologische Exkursionsflora. Für Deutschland und angrenzende Gebiete. Eugen Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart, 8., stark überarb. u. erg. Aufl, 1056 S. 978-3-8001-3131-0.;

Plants for a Future (1996-2012): PFAF. See: https://pfaf.org/;

Simpson, M. J. A. et al. (1996): Past, Present and Future Utilisation of Myrica gale (Myricaceae). Economic Botany, 50(1): 122-129.;