Home
Acanthaceae
Alismataceae
Amaranthaceae
Amaryllidaceae
Annonaceae
Apiaceae
Apocynaceae
Araceae
Araucariaceae
Arecaceae
Asteraceae
Asclepiadaceae
Bignoniaceae
Boraginaceae
Brassicaceae
Bromeliaceae
Cactaceae
Campanulaceae
Caryophyllaceae
Casuarinaceae
Celastraceae
Clusiaceae
Combretaceae
Commelinaceae
Convolvulaceae
Crassulaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Cyperaceae
Ericaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Fabaceae
Fagaceae
Iridaceae
Lamiaceae
Lauraceae
Liliaceae
Lythraceae
Magnoliaceae
Malpighiaceae
Malvaceae
Melastomataceae
Moraceae
Myrsinaceae
Myrtaceae
Nyctaginaceae
Nymphaceae
Oleaceae
Orchidaceae
Oxalidaceae
Papaveraceae
Piperaceae
Plantaginaceae
Poaceae
Polygonaceae
Portulaceae
Proteaceae
Ranunculaceae
Rhamnaceae
Rosaceae
Rubiaceae
Rutaceae
Sapindaceae
Sapotaceae
Solanaceae
Urticaceae
Verbenaceae
Violaceae
Zingiberaceae
Lauraceae:
There are about 2000 species of laurels in 55 genera (wikipedia). They include popular spices such as Bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) and Cinnamon (Cinnamomum burmannii). Like these two spices, many of the plants in this family have aromatic leaves. Another laurel of economic value is the Avocado (Pursea ameriana) which is grown in both California and Florida.
Certain laurels, like the Camphor tree can also be quite invasive. I've experienced this when I lived in Hawaii and in northern New South Whales, Australia. In Australia, birds act as the vectors for the seeds and disperse this plant all over the forest. Its particularly pronounced along fence-lines where birds tend to defecate.
Systematics:
Laurels are recognized by a close examination of the anthers. They usually have 4 dehiscent anthers (meaning they split when mature). At the bottom of the stamen is an enlarged glandular appendage. Leaves are simple and alternate. The perianth is undifferentiated. Tepals: 6 or 3+3. The flowers are usually small and greenish.
Important Species
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Links to more information
-
Wikipedia entry: Currently the best source for taxonomic information.
-
Dr. Carr's Plant Family Web: For a detailed description of the systematics and several high quality macro photographs of the flowers.
List of current genera
- Actinodaphne
- Adenodaphne
- Aiouea
- Alseodaphne
- Anaueria
- Aniba
- Apollonias
- Aspidostemon
- Beilschmiedia
- Brassiodendron
- Caryodaphnopsis
- Cassytha
- Chlorocardium
- Cinnadenia
- Cinnamomum (including Cinnamon and Camphor)
- Clinostemon
- Cryptocarya
- Dahlgrenodendron
- Dehaasia
- Dicypellium
- Dodecadenia
- Endiandra
- Endlicheria
- Eusideroxylon
- Gamanthera
- Hexapora
- Hypodaphnis
- Iteadaphne
- Kubitzkia
- Laurus (Bay Laurel) - more info at Wikipedia
- Licaria
- Lindera
- Litsea
- Machilus
- Mezilaurus
- Mocinnodaphne
- Mutisiopersea
- Nectandra
- Neocinnamomum
- Neolitsea
- Nothaphoebe
- Ocotea
- Paraia
- Parasassafras
- Persea
- Phoebe
- Phyllostemonodaphne
- Pleurothyrium
- Potameia
- Potoxylon
- Povedadaphne
- Ravensara clove nutmeg
- Rhodostemonodaphne
- Sassafras
- Sextonia
- Sinosassafras
- Syndiclis
- Triadodaphne
- Umbellularia (includes Umbellularia californica, a plant often mistaken for BayLaurel)
- Urbanodendron
- Williamodendron
- Yushunia
