Laurel family
Description
A family of shrubs and trees, mainly in the tropics and subtropics, with aromatic oil glands in all parts (Lauraceae 1).
The leaves are simple, usually alternate, leathery and evergreen. The flowers are usually borne in racemes, usually bisexual, small, greenish, with 6 sepals in 2 whorls, petals absent. Usually 12 stamens in 4 whorls, the innermost often reduced, and a superior ovary. The fruit is a berry.
There are about 40 genera.
Use
The genus Cinnamomum yields spices and camphor; the genus Persea the widely cultivated avocado pear, and the genus Laurus the laurel.
Described species
Cinnamomum zeylanicum, cinnamon
Cinnamomum cassia, cassia or Chinese cinnamon, see Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Cinnamomum burmanni, Padang cassia, see Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Cinnamomum camphora, camphor tree, see Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Laurus nobilis, laurel, see Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Persea americana, avocado pear