Umbellularia californica is an evergreen tree of the Lauraceae family. It is common in coastal forests of western North America from Douglas County, Oregon through California nearly to Mexico. It is also found in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The leaves are smooth edged and oval, similarly to the related Bay laurel and have a similar flavor and use as bay leaves. The wood is very hard and fine, and is made into bowls, spoons and other small items and sold as "myrtlewood". Its fruit is round and green, lightly spotted with yellow, and about one inch in diameter. It consists of a fleshy covering over a hard, thin-shelled seed.
In Oregon, this tree is known as Oregon Myrtle, but in California it is called California Bay Laurel, which may be shortened to California Bay or California Laurel. It has also been called Pepperwood.
The genus Umbellularia is monotypic (having only the one species).
The Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis, Lauraceae), also known as True Laurel, Sweet Bay, Grecian Laurel, Laurel, or Bay Tree, is an aromatic evergreen tree or large shrub reaching 10–18 m tall, native to the Mediterranean region.
Bay Laurel is the source of the bay leaves which are used for their flavour in cooking.
It was also the source of the laurel wreath of ancient Greece, and therefore the expression of "resting on one's laurels".
Climate: California bay grows in the cool, humid maritime climate of dense coastal forests and the mediterranean climate of California hardwood forests and chaparral [9].
Elevation: California bay is found from sea level to 4,000 feet (1,219 m) in northern California and Oregon and from 2,000 to 5,000 feet (610-1,524 m) in southern California [42].
Other considerations: California bay was an integral part of a fire hazard reduction project in the Berkeley Hills, where highly flammable exotic eucalyptus were removed to release the less flammable understory of California bay and coast live oak [38].
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