Family |
Lauraceae
Laurus nobilis
L.
Laurus nobilis L.
First published in Sp. Pl.: 369 (1753).
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 2, p. 1, Pl. I, 1; 1970)
Description
Life-form & habit: Aromatic tree, 3–6 m tall in Mouterde's treatment, mostly hairless apart from the finely hairy flower stalks.
Leaves: Short-stalked, oblong to lanceolate, somewhat leathery, entire and often slightly wavy-edged, tapering to a pointed tip.
Inflorescence & flowers: Small umbels, enclosed before opening by 3–4 hooded bracts that soon fall. Flowers are pale yellow, with four perianth segments; male and female flowers are borne separately.
Fruit: Black, olive-shaped fruit seated on the persistent floral disc.
Flowering and habitat
Phenology: Flowering March–April.
Habitat & elevation: Mediterranean habitats; also grown in ornamental gardens, occasionally reaching relatively high elevations.
Distribution
Lebanese distribution: Naqoura, the southern border farther east, Zahrani, Saida, Nahr Beirut near the aqueduct, Nahr el Kalb, Nahr Ibrahim, Yahchouch, Madfoun, Ras Chekka, Moukhtara, Qannoubine, Ehden forest and Kfertay.
Syrian distribution: El Bire, Jaoubat Bourghal, Nebi Younes and Kessab.
Native range: Albania, Algeria, Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., France, Greece, Italy, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Morocco, NW. Balkan Pen., Palestine, Sardegna, Sicilia, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe.
Introduced into: Azores, Baleares, Great Britain, Ireland, Korea, Krym, North Caucasus, Portugal, Spain, Transcaucasus, Vietnam.