Laurus nobilis L.   Lauraceae (Laurel Family)   Mediterranean region   Laurel

                                       March Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Evergreen tree to 40 ft., but cult. as a tub-plant and sheared into various forms, glabrous; lvs. stiff, dull green, lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 1-3.5 in. long, short-petioled; fls. in small axillary umbels which in bud are enclosed in a globose involucre, yellowish, inconspicuous, blooming in early spring; calyx 4-parted; perfect stamens usually 12 or more; berries dark purple, .5-.75 in. long.

Habitat: Escape from cultivation.  Blooms early spring.

Name:  Laur-rus, ancient name.  (Bailey 421).  Nobilis, noble, famous, renowned.  (Bailey 18).

General:  Rare in the study area having been found only on the steep bank adjacent to the path into the Eastbluff Burn area.  (my comment).      This is the laurel of history.  Other plants known as laurel are Kalmia latifolia, Umbellularia californica, and several species of Prunus as P. laurocerasus, P. lusitanica, and P. caroliniana.  (Bailey 421).      Umbellularia californica is the California Bay, a pungently aromatic tree and a true laurel.  Kalmia and Prunus species, are not related to the Laurus genus but are given the same common name.  (John Johnson).       One hundred fifty million years ago there was probably only one species of laurel growing along the Tethys Sea in Pangea, the single land mass of five continents joined together.  Then the Atlantic Ocean opened, separating the laurel populations into American and European-Asiatic, and divergence in species and genera began.  The same is true for the live oaks, cypresses and juniper, and a number of other groups of plants.  One species, the Styrax officinalis (Snowdrop Bush), still is one species in California and Greece, Turkey, and along the Black Sea, but subspecies differences have developed with time.  (John Johnson).      Used as an aromatic, stomachic, (medicine strengthening or stimulating the stomach), astringent and carminative.  (tending to reduce flatulence).  The Seminole Indians used the leaves of Laurus glauca for making a tea which they consider very wholesome.  "Across the Everglades" by H. Willoughby, 1900.  (Meyer 71).      A pleasant tonic, which gives tone and strength to the digestive organs.  Expels wind from the stomach and bowels and is good for cramps.  (Kloss 203).

Text Ref:  Bailey 421.

Photo Ref:  Nov-Dec 89 # 18,19; Mar-May 90 # 3,4.

Identity: by John Johnson.

First Found:  December 1989.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 391.

Plant specimen donated to UC Riverside in 2004.

Last edit 8/6/05. 

                              December Photo                                                           March Photo