California-laurel (a.k.a. California bay) (Umbellularia californica) with its remarkable flower clusters

Text by Joan Zimmerman, Ph.D.
All photos (c) 2006-2007 Scott Peden, Photographer and Docent at Big Basin State Park.

Forest and Tree Home, Glossary pages: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z.

Trees of North American. Trees of the American Pacific Northwest.

Deforesting the Earth: From Prehistory to Global Crisis by Michael Williams.

California-laurel (a.k.a. California bay) photos.
Other species.

Features:

• Evergreen.
• Small tree or large shrub. Can reach 80 feet (rarely).
• Leaves: Aromatic when crushed; smooth, long and pointed, 2-to-5" long; 1" wide. Smooth margins.
• Clusters of small greenihs-yellow flowers in winter and early spring.
• Fruit: drupe, 1" long, green to purple. See drupe photo below.
• Bark: Greenish brown. Smooth to scaly.

'Other common names include Pepperwood, Oregon Myrtle, bay laurel (but that is the European shrub laurus noblis), Myrtlewood, and Spice Tree.' [Scott Peden]

California-laurel (a.k.a. California bay) photos

All photos (c) 2006-2007 Scott Peden.

'These first two pictures are of the California-laurel by the River, March 6th 2006. California-laurels only grow at the bottoms of valleys near water sources and on the tops of ridges, never in-between, so there is some speculation whether they are separate species. ... it appears there are more flowers on the California-laurels near the water sources.' [Scott Peden]

Bayberry on a ridge.
'These pictures are of a California-laurel near the upper end of a ridge in Boulder Creek well up Bear Creek Road, at the edge of the redwoods-to-chaparral transition. This is July 4th, 2002, for the Dupe and November 20th, 2002, for the flowers, but this is the same tree.' [Scott Peden]

See also these pages

Other species:

• Baobab, the world's widest tree.
• Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) Also, How to Grow, Time Chart,
• Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii).
• Fig (Ficus), sacred to many in Asia.
• Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum).
• Ginkgo, whose kernels are said to provide relief from tinnitus, dementia, stroke, dizziness, etc.
• Hazel [California].
• The Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens).
• Oaks.
• Pines: Introducing Pines, Pine Fun Facts, How to Names Pines.
• Redwood:
  • Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens).
  • Life History and Ecological Guide to the Coast Redwood by Daniel J. Miller.
  • Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides).
  • Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum).
• Welwitschia mirabilis, the Namibian survivalist tree.
  
• Brief notes on Fir, Hemlock, Larch, Spruce.

Also:

• Newt, banana slug, and flower count graph (opens in a new window).
• How the large slugs create the little slugs. (Marvelous photos by Scott - well worth the download time!)
• Articles - Index

Forest and Tree Home, Glossary pages: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z.

Buy Banana Slug: A Close Look at a Giant Forest Slug of Western North America by Alice Bryant Harper, Daniel Harper (Photographer).

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Check our disclaimer. Text Copyright © 2006-2007 by Joan Zimmerman. Photos Copyright © 2006-2007 by Scott Peden. The moral and intellectual property rights to the photos are asserted by Scott Peden. None of the photos referenced on this page may be reproduced without permission of Scott Peden.