The California bay is a very tall tree (20-30 m) which is renowned for its many medicinal, nutritional and artisanal properties. It may, however, be a carrier of a pseudo-fungus (Phytophthora ramorum), responsible for sudden oak death, and therefore requires vigilance.
Identity Card
Taxonomy
Detailed Informations
Etymology
Umbellularia, “small umbels” in Latin, refers to the shape of its inflorescences. Californica means “from California”.
Description and flowering period
Umbellularia californica is a persistent tree reaching 20 to 30 meters in height. Its lance-shaped aromatic leaves are reminiscent of laurel leaves, which belongs to the same family.
When bruised, the leaves release a strong scent which can cause headaches. The yellowish flowers are small and arranged in umbels (an inflorescence with branches arising from the same point on a common peduncle). The fruit, commonly referred to as “California bay nut” is a small round and green berry, lightly spotted with yellow and resembles a mini avocado (the genus Persea: avocado trees, is closely related to Umbellularia). Turning purple once mature, the fruit presents a thin tough skin and a fatty flesh surrounding a single hard pit with a paper-thin husk.
Habitat
It appreciates any soil type and is hardy to -12°C.
Uses
Food & drink: Dried leaves are used in small doses as seasoning (just like laurel leaves, the leaf must be left to cook with the dish); in Amerindian civilisations, the flesh of the fruit was eaten once dried and the seeds were roasted.
Crafts: The wood, ranging from blond to brown once dried, is recognised by luthiers as a world-class tone-wood for guitar making. It is also commonly used for kitchen utensils…
Medicinal: In Amerindian civilisations, it is used to treat headaches, toothaches and ear infections (leaves), rheumatisms et neuralgias (leaf poultice), stomach-aches, sore throats and bronchitis (leaf infusions).
Notes
This species is the only one in its Genus. It can be a host of the pathogen responsible for “Sudden Oak Death”: disease which decimates oak trees of Oregon and Californian forests.
Translated by: François Saint-Hillier – MNHN