Redbay tree
| Persea borbonia | |
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| Persea borbonia leaves | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Laurales |
| Family: | Lauraceae |
| Genus: | Persea |
| Species: | P. borbonia |
| Binomial name | |
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Persea borbonia (L.) Spreng. |
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| Natural range | |
| Synonyms | |
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Persea borbonia is a species of plant in the Lauraceae family, with several common names including redbay,tisswood,scrubbay, shorebay, and swampbay.
It is one of about 150 species in the evergreen tree genus Persea. It is an evergreen tree that is native to the Southeastern United States.
Persea borbonia can be present as either a small tree or a large shrub. It has evergreen leaves that are about 3 to 6 inches long with a lance shape. The leaves are arranged alternately and emit a spicy smell when crushed. The leaves vary in color from bright green to dark green. These trees are capable of producing fruit that is a small, blue or black drupe. Redbay is a perennial, with a non-herbaceous stem that is lignified.
Persea borbonia grows in the coastal margins of the southeastern United States. It grows in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North and South Carolina and coastal Virginia. It also grows in the Bahamas and is cultivated in Hawaii. It usually grows on the borders of swamp land.
Unfortunately, due to an invasion of redbay ambrosia beetle in the Southern United States the tree is slowly dying out. The beetle was discovered in 2002 near Savannah, Georgia and it carries a laurel wilt fungal disease that is responsible for killing Redbays. However, foresters agree the species will likely not go extinct in the southeastern U.S. since it appears to rejuvenate to some degree on its own. Additionally, there appears to be an invitro programs that have been successful in one study area in Georgia.
The plant is not widely used in the present day for medicinal uses, however the Seminole Indians used to use it as an emetic, to induce vomiting. The dried up leaves can be used as a condiment.
The wood is hard and strong, which can be used to build boats, cabinets and for lining the interior of structures. The wood is not traded on a very large scale so it is confined to the regions where P. borbonia grows.
Persea borbonia is cultivated as an ornamental tree for gardens and parks.
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Wikipedia