Neha Patil (Editor)

Laurus

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Kingdom
  
Plantae

Family
  
Lauraceae

Higher classification
  
Lauraceae

Order
  
Laurales

Scientific name
  
Laurus

Rank
  
Genus

Laurus WILD HERBS OF CRETE Laurus nobilis

Lower classifications
  
Bay laurel, Laurus azorica, Laurus novocanariensis

Scratchboard illustration of laurus plant


Laurus is a genus of evergreen trees belonging to the Laurel family, Lauraceae. The genus includes three or more species.

Contents

Laurus wwwsmgrowerscomimagedbLaurusSaratogajpg

Bay tree laurus nobilis


Species

Laurus Laurus nobilis Lauraceae Laurel Sweet Bay

The number of species in the genus has not yet been fully resolved. The following may or may not be included.

Laurus FileLaurus nobilis 002JPG Wikimedia Commons

  • Laurus azorica, Azores Laurel is native to the Azores, and also locally introduced in Cortegada Island, Spain. A recent study found considerable genetic diversity within L. nobilis, and that L. azorica is not genetically or morphologically distinct.
  • Laurus nobilis, bay Laurel, true laurel, is used as a culinary spice (one type of bay leaf). It was also the original source of the laurel wreath of ancient Greece. It is native to the Mediterranean region.
  • Laurus novocanariensis, formerly included in L. azorica.

    • Fossil history

    Fossils dating from before the Pleistocene glaciations show that species of Laurus were formerly distributed more widely around the Mediterranean and North Africa, when the climate was more humid and mild than at present. It is currently thought that the drying of the Mediterranean basin during the glaciations caused Laurus to retreat to the mildest climate refuges, including southern Spain, Portugal and the Macaronesian islands. With the end of the last glacial period, L. nobilis recovered some of its former range around the Mediterranean.

    References

    Laurus Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA