laurel

The plants of the botanical genus Laurus are usually very loved in gardens and orchards since, being perennial and growing to a certain height, they give a very pleasant shade. Also, their root system is non-invasive, so they won’t cause any problems.

Even so, all plants have their own characteristics that make them unique. That is why it is more or less easy for us to classify them. Our protagonists are no exception.

From

They are evergreen trees and shrubs that belong to the genus Laurus and the family Lauraceae. 331 species have been described, but so far only 3 have been accepted. All of them began their evolution before the last ice age (about 110.000 years ago). At that time they were more distributed throughout the Mediterranean and North Africa, since the climate was somewhat more temperate and humid than now.

The droughts of the Mediterranean region during the ice ages forced them to retreat towards milder places, such as southern Spain and the Macaronesia. But when the last ice age ended, the A noble laurel it could be said that he returned home, living again in the Mediterranean region.

Characteristics of the Laurus

They are woody plants that have simple leaves, about 10cm long by 3cm wide, and greenish in color. The flowers, which sprout in spring, are grouped in axillary cymes, and are unisexual, very small and greenish-yellow in color. The fruit is a dark berry, usually bluish-blackish.

They reach heights of between 5 and 20 metersand its growth rate is usually fast but without reaching the extreme; In other words, as the months go by, you notice that they are getting bigger, but they are not plants that grow 1m / year, but perhaps 30-40cm / year.

Accepted species

The new options are the following:

laurel azorica

It is known as the Azores laurel or parrot. Native to laurel forests of the Azores and the Canary Islands. Reaches a height of 10 to 18 meters highwith a dense crown of lanceolate, leathery leaves, of an intense green color.

It is currently in danger of extinction due to loss of habitat.

A noble laurel

It is known as laurel, Baía laurel, Greek laurel or Baía Dulce. It is native to the Mediterranean from Spain to Greece. Reaches a height of 5 to 10 meterswith a straight trunk with gray bark.

Its glass is dense, composed of bluish, lanceolate, leathery and aromatic leaves, which are widely used in cooking as a condiment.

Laurel of Nova Scotia

It is known as parrot or laurel. It is native to the laurel forests of the Canary Islands, and endemic to the archipelago and Madeira. Reaches a height of 20 meterswith a dense crown composed of alternate, leathery leaves, of an intense green color on the upper surface and somewhat lighter on the underside.

What do you think of these plants? 🙂