Laurus nobilis g1.jpg on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
''Laurus'' () is a genus of evergreen trees or shrubs belonging to the laurel family,
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.
online
(pdf file; in French). *Costa, J. C., Capelo, J., Jardim, R., Sequeira, M., (2004). Catálogo Florístico do Arquipélago da Madeira. ''Quercetea'' 6, 187-200. *Mabberley, D.J (1997). The Plant Book: a Portable Dictionary of the Vascular Plants. Second edition, pp. 393–394.
{{Taxonbar, from=Q21188 Lauraceae genera Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Dioecious plants Lauraceae
Lauraceae
Lauraceae, or the laurels, is a plant family that includes the true laurel and its closest relatives. This family comprises about 2850 known species in about 45 genera worldwide (Christenhusz & Byng 2016 ). They are dicotyledons, and occur ma ...
. The genus contains three or more species, including the bay laurel or sweet bay, ''L. nobilis'', widely cultivated as an ornamental plant and a culinary herb.
Description
They are slow-growing, large, evergreen aromatic shrubs or trees with alternate, ovate leaves and insignificant yellow male and female flowers borne on separate plants (dioecious
Dioecy (; ; adj. dioecious , ) is a characteristic of a species, meaning that it has distinct individual organisms (unisexual) that produce male or female gametes, either directly (in animals) or indirectly (in seed plants). Dioecious reproductio ...
). They are frost-hardy but in temperate zones they require a sheltered spot in full sun that is not subject to prolonged freezing. Plants in pots can be moved into a cold greenhouse during the winter months.
Species
The number of species in the genus has not yet been fully resolved. The following may or may not be included. *'' Laurus azorica'', Azores laurel, is native to the Azores. *'' Laurus nobilis'', bay Laurel, true laurel, sweet bay, is used as an ornamental plant and culinary herb (one type ofbay leaf
The bay leaf is an aromatic leaf commonly used in cooking. It can be used whole, either dried or fresh, in which case it is removed from the dish before consumption, or less commonly used in ground form. It may come from several species of tr ...
) used in Mediterranean style dishes. 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'', native to Madeira
)
, anthem = ( en, "Anthem of the Autonomous Region of Madeira")
, song_type = Regional anthem
, image_map=EU-Portugal_with_Madeira_circled.svg
, map_alt=Location of Madeira
, map_caption=Location of Madeira
, subdivision_type=Sovereign st ...
and the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community and archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, in Macaronesia. At their closest point to the African mainland, they are west of Morocc ...
.
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
Further reading
*Arroyo-García, R., Martínez-Zapater, J.M., Fernández Prieto, J.A., & Álvarez-Arbesú R. (2001). AFLP evaluation of genetic similarity among laurel populations. ''Euphytica'' 122 (1): 155-164. *Barbero, M., Benabid, A., Peyre, C. & Quezel, P. (1981). Sur la presence au Maroc de ''Laurus azorica'' (Seub.) Franco. '' Anales Jard. Bot. Madrid'' 37 (2): 467-472. Availablonline
(pdf file; in French). *Costa, J. C., Capelo, J., Jardim, R., Sequeira, M., (2004). Catálogo Florístico do Arquipélago da Madeira. ''Quercetea'' 6, 187-200. *Mabberley, D.J (1997). The Plant Book: a Portable Dictionary of the Vascular Plants. Second edition, pp. 393–394.
External links
{{Taxonbar, from=Q21188 Lauraceae genera Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Dioecious plants Lauraceae