Morella rivas-martinezii

This rare tree is very branching and is usually 8-10 m tall, although it can sometimes reach 20 m. Its bark is somewhat cork-like in older specimens. The leaves are simple, alternate, a little leathery, hairless, and have an almost entire or slightly crenated margin. It differs from the firetree (Myrica faya), by having smaller adult leaves (about 20 mm long and 10 mm wide) that are spatulate-shaped, i.e., they are rounded and wide towards the apex and very narrow at the base. The young leaves are usually larger than the adults, 60 mm long and 35 mm wide, and ovate-rounded in shape. As it is a dioecious species, the two sexes are separated into different plants. The male flowers are grouped into short, yellowish-green catkins, about 10 mm long. After fertilisation, the female blooms form fruits similar to those of the firetree. They are somewhat fleshy, globose drupes that are blackish purple when ripe and which have a granular surface a little reminiscent of a mulberry, although they are harder and smaller (5-8 mm in diameter).