Lauraceae FAMILY Endangered

Tamala borbonia

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Tamala borbonia is an evergreen shrub or small tree growing up to 15 metres tall with a round, spreading crown that casts a dense shade[ 309 Title Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida Publication Author Website http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/ Publisher University of Florida Year 0 ISBN Description PDF fact sheets on over 500 shrubs. ]. The tree is harvested from the wild for a number of local uses. Its leaves are used as a condiment, whilst the plant also has a number of medicinal applications. The wood is of excellent quality, but seldom available in sufficient quantity. The tree is occasionally cultivated as an ornamental. Tamala borbonia was historically abundant within its range but has recently been affected by the invasive Redbay Ambrosia Beetle and disease, laurel wilt, caused by a pathogenic fungal symbiont that is carried by the beetle. The disease has caused at least 30% population decline for the species within the past generation with more than a 90% mortality rate in some stands. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2021)[ 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. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate; tropical

Native RangeSouth-eastern N. America - North Carolina to Florida and west to Texas

HabitatSandy to rich moist soils of low woodlands, coastal forests, along the sides of bogs, streams and swamps[ 229 Title The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Publication Author Elias. T. Publisher Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. Year 1980 ISBN 0442238622 Description A very good concise guide. Gives habitats, good descriptions, maps showing distribution and a few of the uses. It also includes the many shrubs that occasionally reach tree proportions. ]. Sometimes found in dry sandy areas in Florida[ 229 Title The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Publication Author Elias. T. Publisher Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. Year 1980 ISBN 0442238622 Description A very good concise guide. Gives habitats, good descriptions, maps showing distribution and a few of the uses. It also includes the many shrubs that occasionally reach tree proportions. ].