Persea borbonia
Syst. Veg. 2: 268. 1825.
Common names: Red bay
EndemicIllustrated
Basionym: Laurus borbonia Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 1: 370. 1753
Synonyms: Persea littoralis Small Tamala borbonia (Linnaeus) Rafinesque Tamala littoralis (Small) Small
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 3.
Trees, to 25 m. Branches appressed-pubescent. Leaf blade narrowly elliptic to widely ovate, 6-16 × 2-5 cm; surfaces abaxially pale, glaucous, moderately pubescent when young with rusty brown, appressed hairs, glabrescent with age, adaxially green, lustrous. Inflorescences: peduncle equal to or shorter than subtending leaf petiole, pubescent. Drupe (8-)10 mm diam., usually glaucous. 2n = 24.
Phenology: Flowering spring–early summer.
Habitat: In hammocks, mixed hardwoods, coastal dunes, maritime forests, outer Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains, rarely in the Piedmont
Elevation: 0-100 m
Distribution
Ala., Ark., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., N.C., S.C., Tex.
Discussion
Some Native Americans used Persea borbonia for medicinal purposes (D. E. Moerman 1986).
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
None.