berry wax, noun phrase

a. historical. A high quality wax produced by boiling the berries of Myrica cordifolia of the Myricaceae, used for polishes and candles by early colonists.
[1789 Lady A. Barnard in Lord Lindsay Lives of Lindsays (1849) III. 396The vegetable wax which the Vrow Alleng’s slaves were stewing from berries, of which I saw a stock of green dull candles made.]
1831 S. Afr. Almanac & Dir. 102The quantity and quality of the undermentioned Cape Produce which passed the Market from January 1, to November 30, 1828..Berry wax 164 pounds.
1857 ‘J.S.H.’ in Cape Monthly Mag. I. May 265Mr. Feeney..has written a description of the growth of M. Cordifolia, and the preparation of the berry wax.
1897 Edmonds & Marloth Elementary Botany 169The genus Myrica, of which M. cordifolia and others supply the berry-wax.
1913 R. Marloth Flora of S. Afr. I. 133The layer of wax on the berries of some species [of myrica] is so considerable that it is technically exploited. The farmers boil the berries with water, strain the hot mixture and allow the melted wax to solidify. The berry wax (myrica wax) is of a pale greenish colour and considerably harder than beeswax.
1927 Off. Yr Bk of Union No. 6, 1923 (Union Office of Census & Statistics) 474Berry Wax, This is obtained from the berries of Myrica cordifolia, a shrub growing on the coast sands in the neighbourhood of Cape Town. It is used locally for floor polish..and is also suitable for soap manufacture.
c1936 S. & E. Afr. Yr Bk & Guide 302Berry Wax, obtained from the berries of the Myrica cordifolia, is used locally for making various polishes. A few tons are exported annually, its value at S.A. port being about 1s per lb.
1964 L.G. Green Old Men Say 100Aloes and acorns were on sale, and berry wax for candles.
b. rare. wax-berry sense b.
1913 H. Tucker Our Beautiful Peninsula 75The red marbles of the berry-wax gleam against the white background.
A high quality wax produced by boiling the berries of Myrica cordifolia of the Myricaceae, used for polishes and candles by early colonists.
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