Laurel Has Ancient Place In Plant Lore

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30447, 22 May 1964, Page 6

Laurel Has Ancient Place In Plant Lore

The laurel, sweet bay or bay laurel as it is also called to distinguish it from the cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus >, is a true native to the Mediterranean area.

It has been cultivated from time immemorial and has long since secured its place in plant lore. It was considered as protection against witchcraft, for Culpepper claims in his herbal “that neither witch, nor devil, thunder nor lightning, will hurt a man where a bay tree grows.” Its leaves, berries and bark were claimed to cure a great manyailments from bee stings to jaundice. Laurel wreaths, with which the ancients used to crown their heroes, came from this tree. Fruiting branches were used for making wreaths to crown outstanding poets, hence the term “poet laureate.” It is from the French word for laurel berry that the term “bachelor” is derived to refer to a university graduate. Today, it may be used as a specimen tree in the garden. Its aromatic leaves are used for flavouring meat, fish and also milk puddings. It makes a tree of up to 60 feet in height, being more or less pyramidal in shape when young, but losing this definite shape with age. The dark

evergreen leaves are thick and leathery and freely produced so that a tree is at all times well clothed. Leaves vary both in shape and size, being generally oval-pointed and varying from lj-4 inches in length. With age the leaves become both smaller and narrower. Greenish yellow flowers are produced freely in spring although different sexes are produced on different trees.Where pollination takes place, black shining berries are produced which germinate readily and form the main means of increase. The tree lends itself to clipping and to tub culture. In Europe clipped plants growing in tubs are commonly found in front of hotels and public buildings. It is very drought resistant once established and will tolerate exposed positions and hot winds well. It is, however, less tolerant to very cold winds in the winter for these can brown the foliage. 1 The true laurel is Laurus nobilis but this term is also used to refer to L. canariensis which it closely resembles. It would seem that it is the latter species that is most common in New Zealand.