Laurus nobilis

Botanical Description

Laurus nobilis is an evergreen tree branching freely from low-down and usually forming a dense, pyramidal crown; it usually grows around 6 - 12 metres tall, sometimes reaching 18 metres[ 1212 Title New Trees Publication Author Grimshaw J.; Bayton R.; Wilks H. Publisher Kew Publishing; London Year 2009 ISBN 1842461737 Description Provides comprehensive botanical descriptions and horticultural commentary on over 800 tree species that have been introduced to cultivation in recent decades. ]. A well-known and popular food flavouring, the bay tree also has a wide range of medicinal and other uses. It is very commonly grown as an ornamental, where it can be used to form a dense hedge. It is mainly harvested from the wild, though it is also cultivated as a food flavouring in some countries. Laurus nobilis has a wide distribution, a presumed large overall population, it occurs in a number of protected areas, and is unlikely to be declining fast enough or across enough of its range to qualify for listing in a more threatened category. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2018)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. The plant is widely grown as an ornamental and food flavouring. It has escaped from cultivation and become naturalised in several areas including parts of western Europe, the Caucasus, Korea and Vietnam.