California laurel
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Description
An aromatic evergreen tree, Umbellularia californica, native to the west coast of the United States. The California laurel tree produces a golden-brown, hard, strong, fine-grain wood used for veneer, cabinetry, and garden tool handles. Although these leaves have been used for cooking because of the similarity to the bay laurel tree, the leaves of the California Laurel contain umbellulone, which is toxic. The nut, however, is edible, when roasted.
Synonyms and Related Terms
Umbellularia californica; California bay laurel; baytree; bay tree; myrtle; Oregon myrtle; pepperwood; laurier de Californie (Fr.); myrte de l’Orégon (Fr.)
Physical and Chemical Properties
- Large evergreen tree growing to 35 m often with multiple stems.
- Bark=thin reddish-brown and scaly
- Leaves=elliptical (7-10 cm) and aromatic when crushed.
- Fruit =spherical drupe (2 cm) attached with stem resembling a golfers tee.
- Density = 40 ppcf
Resources and Citations
- Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)
- Virginia Tech Dendrology website at www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/main.htm (accessed Oct. 8, 2005)
- Wikipedia: California_laurel (Accessed Oct. 8, 2005 and May 2026)
- Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997
- The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998