California bay
Umbellularia californica

Family: Lauraceae.

Type: Tall evergreen tree.

Branching: Alternate.

Leaves: Simple, entire leaves that are very long and pointed. Very aromatic.

Twig: Twigs are smooth and green. Bark is gray and fairly smooth. At the base, the trunk has a swollen base that contains buds from which is can resprout.

Fruit & Flower: The fruit is a drupe that resembles a small avocado, with a soft yellow-green to black oily exterior and a smooth yellow-brown pit.

Miscellaneous: The California bay is known by many different names (laurel, bay laurel), and is in the same family as the avocado. It can be hard to find bud scars, so identifying it as an evergreen can be difficult. The bay leaves used in cooking are from a related tree; the California bay's leaves are much stronger and more bitter, so although they can be cooked with, they should be used very sparingly. California bay is believed to be the carrier of sudden oak death. It is found in moist, shady forest such as redwood or mixed evergreen forests, and even in oak woodlands in riparian zones. It is fairly shade-tolerant.