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Myrica
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<p><i>Myrica</i> /mɪˈraɪkə/ is a <a href="/facts/Genus/m8EFjSms">genus</a> of about 35–50 <a href="/facts/Species/oDg6b96r">species</a> of small <a href="/facts/Tree/HVVn3srN">trees</a> and <a href="/facts/Shrub/X1gKVxL5">shrubs</a> in the <a href="/facts/Family_(biology)/qTrn6E8E">family</a> <a href="/facts/Myricaceae/uamjrpwu">Myricaceae</a>, <a href="/facts/Taxonomic_rank/bPFQpe9A">order</a> <a href="/facts/Fagales/o8CjmegD">Fagales</a>. The genus has a wide <a href="/facts/Species_distribution/SAI9lJq9">distribution</a>, including <a href="/facts/Africa/XkqQUP9s">Africa</a>, <a href="/facts/Asia/4IToYrrQ">Asia</a>, <a href="/facts/Europe/DTAtrKfh">Europe</a>, <a href="/facts/North_America/djNjCQIl">North America</a>, and <a href="/facts/South_America/PhrFEMk7">South America</a>, and missing only from <a href="/facts/Antarctica/bEM5Lem5">Antarctica</a> and <a href="/facts/Oceania/vzTEvsfV">Oceania</a>. Some <a href="/facts/Botany/PaIRoxnb">botanists</a> split the genus into two genera on the basis of the <a href="/facts/Catkin/PPE9klav">catkin</a> and <a href="/facts/Fruit/PBpuzk60">fruit</a> structure, restricting <i>Myrica</i> to a few species, and treating the others in <i>Morella</i>. </p><p>Common names include bayberry, bay-rum tree, candleberry, sweet gale, and wax-myrtle. The generic name was derived from the <a href="/facts/Greek_language/pzDd6eIz">Greek</a> word μυρίκη (<i>myrike</i>), meaning "fragrance". </p>