California bay laurel (Umbellularia californica)
California bay laurel, also known as Oregon myrtle, California bay tree, Mountain laurel, Peppernut tree, Headache tree
Certainly! The California bay laurel tree serves multiple purposes:
1. **Cooking**: While sometimes used as a substitute for bay leaves, it has a much more intense flavor.
2. **Woodworking**: The wood is prized for its fine grain and is often used in the creation of furniture and as tonewood for musical instruments like guitars.
3. **Traditional Medicine**: Indigenous peoples use the leaves for their medicinal properties to treat ailments such as headaches and colds.
Key Facts About California bay laurel
Attributes of California bay laurel
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Tree, Shrub
Plant Height
30 m
Spread
8 m to 9 m
Leaf Color
Green
Flower Size
2.5 cm
Flower Color
Yellow Green
Scientific Classification of California bay laurel
Phylum
Vascular plants
Class
Dicotyledons
Order
Laurales
Family
Laurel
Genus
California laurel
Species
California bay laurel
Toxicity
Ingestion, Inhalation