Cherry-laurel

Terminology

This plant belongs to the many plants called Laurier S because of the aspect of their sheets, elliptic, coriaces and brilliant. Originating in Eastern Europe and minor Asia, it does not have anything to however see with the kind Laurus , since it belongs to the family of the Rosacées and the kind Prunus .

Other names, used sometimes according to the planted varieties: bay-tree of Trébizonde, bay-tree-almond, bay-tree of the the Caucasus. One speaks about " Laurière" for a thicket of these trees.

Ecology and habitat

Indigenous shrub in Minor Asia, naturalized in Western Europe, where it forms wood lights or hedges. Appreciate the grounds neutral or slightly acids, sunny or with half shaded. Flowering in spring between May and avril.

Description

The cherry-laurel is a small tree or long-lived shrub with persistent foliage, being able to reach 8 m if it is planted as a recluse. Many sheets coriaces simple, alternate, with avers shining, elliptic with lancéolées.

Its Inflorescence S pushes in set up bunches pushing with the armpit of the sheets. Small white flowers (corolla with 5 lobes) with only one style surrounded by many cheesecloths.

The fruit is small a Drupe, black with maturity containing a seed.

The whole of the plant is toxic.

Use

The cherry-laurel is mainly used like decorative Plante or to constitute bulky Haie S.

The Entomologiste S use sometimes a sheet of Cherry-laurel to kill " proprement" a Butterfly. They put the butterfly and one or two sheets of cherry-laurel in a closed bottle. In a few hours, the butterfly is poisoned by the toxic fumes of the sheets.

Varieties

Prunus laurocerasus “Caucasica”
Prunus laurocerasus “Variegata”
Prunus laurocerasus “Otto Luyken” with more frayed sheets.

References

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