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| − | '''''Prunus laurocerasus''''', also known as '''cherry laurel''', '''common laurel''' and sometimes '''English laurel''' in [[North America]], is an evergreen species of cherry (''[[Prunus]]''), native to regions bordering the [[Black Sea]] in southwestern [[Asia]] and southeastern [[Europe]], from [[Albania]] and [[Bulgaria]] east through [[Turkey]] to the [[Caucasus Mountains]] and northern [[Iran]].<ref>Euro+Med Plantbase Project: [http://ww2.bgbm.org/_EuroPlusMed/PTaxonDetail.asp?NameId=29962&PTRefFk=500000 ''Prunus laurocerasus''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309180749/http://ww2.bgbm.org/_EuroPlusMed/PTaxonDetail.asp?NameId=29962&PTRefFk=500000 |date=2012-03-09 }}</ref><ref>{{GRIN | accessdate = 21 December 2017}}</ref> | + | '''''Prunus laurocerasus''''', also known as '''cherry laurel''', '''common laurel''' and sometimes '''English laurel''' in [[North America]], is an evergreen species of cherry (''[[Prunus]]''), native to regions bordering the [[Black Sea]] in southwestern [[Asia]] and southeastern [[Europe]]. |
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| − | The common names of ''P. laurocerasus'' refer to the similarity of foliage and appearance to [[bay laurel]] (''Laurus nobilis'', the true laurel, in the [[Lauraceae]] family), and like the bay laurel, ''Prunus laurocerasus'' was used for making [[laurel wreath]]s,<ref>{{cite book|author=Mabberley, D.J.|year=2008|title=The plant book: A portable dictionary of the vascular plants (entry for ''Laurus'')|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge|url=https://books.google.com/books/about/Mabberley_s_Plant_book.html?id=9RyKKHtwXUYC&redir_esc=y|}}</ref> but the two plants are unrelated. It is not to be confused with its American relative ''[[Prunus caroliniana]]'', which is also called cherry laurel. | + | The fruit look much more delicious than they taste. The resemblance to other ''Prunus'' is unmistakeable but they are sometimes very bitter and astringent, and even when not bitter the astringency is still there. Cooking or preservation might improve the flavor. |
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| − | ==Description==
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| − | ''Prunus laurocerasus'' is an [[evergreen]] [[shrub]] or small to medium-sized [[tree]], growing to {{convert|5|to|15|m|ft}} tall, rarely to {{convert|18|m|ft}}, with a trunk up to 60 cm broad. The [[leaves]] are dark green, leathery, shiny, (5–)10–25(–30) cm long and 4–10 cm broad, with a finely serrated margin. The leaves can have the scent of almonds when crushed. The [[flower]] buds appear in early spring and open in early summer in erect 7–15 cm [[raceme]]s of 30–40 flowers, each flower 1 cm across, with five creamy-white petals and numerous yellowish stamens with a sweet smell. The [[fruit]] is a small [[cherry]] 1–2 cm broad, turning black when ripe in early autumn.<ref name=rushforth>Rushforth, K. (1999). ''Trees of Britain and Europe''. Collins {{ISBN|0-00-220013-9}}.</ref><ref name=fnwe>Flora of NW Europe: [http://ip30.eti.uva.nl/BIS/flora.php?selected=beschrijving&menuentry=soorten&id=2724 ''Prunus laurocerasus''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514194333/http://ip30.eti.uva.nl/BIS/flora.php?selected=beschrijving&menuentry=soorten&id=2724 |date=2008-05-14 }}</ref>
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| − | ==Cultivation==
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| − | [[Image:Lorbeerkirschblueten.jpg|thumb|right|Flowers - ''Prunus laurocerasus'']]
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| − | ''Prunus laurocerasus'' is a widely cultivated [[ornamental plant]], used for planting in [[garden]]s and parks in temperate regions worldwide. It is often used for [[hedge]]s, as a screening plant, and as a massed [[landscape design|landscape]] plant. Most cultivars are tough [[shrub]]s that can cope with difficult growing conditions, including shaded and dry conditions, and which respond well to [[pruning]].
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| − | ===Cultivars===
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| − | Over 40 [[cultivar]]s have been selected, including<ref name=rhs>Huxley, A., ed. (1992). ''New RHS Dictionary of Gardening''. Macmillan {{ISBN|0-333-47494-5}}.</ref>
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| − | *'Aureovariegata', variegated, leaves with a yellow margin
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| − | *'Magnifolia', vigorous, with great leaves up to 30-cm wide and 11-cm broad
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| − | *'Otto Luyken' (named after [[Otto Luyken]]), half-dwarf, with small leaves 10-cm wide and 2–3-cm broad
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| − | *'Zabeliana', selected for winter cold tolerance
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| − | The cultivar 'Otto Luyken' has gained the [[Royal Horticultural Society]]'s [[Award of Garden Merit]].<ref>{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - ''Prunus laurocerasus'' 'Otto Luyken'|url=http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=1542|accessdate=29 May 2013}}</ref>
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| − | [[Image:Karayemiş-2.JPG|thumb|right|Leaves - ''Prunus laurocerasus'']]
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| − | ==Invasive species==
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| − | It has become [[naturalisation (biology)|naturalised]] widely. In some regions (such as the United Kingdom and the Pacific Northwest of North America), this species can be an [[invasive plant]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130926193421/http://info.evergreen.ca/docs/res/invasives/Invasive-Plant-Profile-Cherry-Laurel.pdf Evergreen.ca Invasive Plant Profile]</ref><ref>[http://weedsbluemountains.org.au/weeds/cherry-laurel/ Weeds of the Blue Mountains]</ref> Its rapid growth, coupled with its evergreen habit and its tolerance of drought and shade, often allow it to out-compete and kill off [[native plant]] species. It is spread by birds, through the seeds in their droppings.
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| − | ==Habitat==
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| − | The species is found in woods and in shrubbery places as an escape in [[Northern Ireland]]<ref>Beesley, S. and Wilde, J. 1997 ''Urban Flora of Belfast.'' Institute of Irish Studies, The Queen's University of Belfast.{{ISBN|0-85389-695X}}</ref>and commonly planted in parks and gardens.<ref> Hackney, P. (Ed) ''Stewart & Corry's Flora of the North-east of Ireland.'' Institute of Irish Studies, The Queen's University of Belfast.</ref>
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| − | ==Other uses==
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| − | The foliage is also used for cut greenery in [[florist]]ry.
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| − | [[File:Prunus laurocerasus macrophylla.jpg|thumb|Prunus laurocerasus fruits.]]
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| − | According to Dr. Chiranjit Parmar on fruitpedia.com, who has a Ph.D. in horticulture from University of Udaipur, India, "the fruits are edible, although rather bland and somewhat astringent".<ref>http://www.fruitipedia.com/english_laurel_prunus_laurocerasus.htm</ref> The fruit contain small amounts of [[hydrogen cyanide]]; any fruit tasting bitter (which indicates larger concentrations of hydrogen cyanide) should not be eaten.<ref>http://www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?latinname=Prunus+laurocerasus</ref> The seed inside the fruit (and the leaves) contain larger concentrations of hydrogen cyanide, and should never be eaten. The toxicity of the seed inside the fruit is similar to the cyanide toxicity of the seeds inside the common fruits apricot and peach.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=t43H0Djym5UC&pg=PA904&lpg=PA904&dq=apricot+seeds+laurel&source=bl&ots=5FQUk93enr&sig=yh7iOSe3y-LmtasRYzxUHDBtPNc&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjfqJbE9I3RAhWBEywKHQREAKsQ6AEIITAB#v=onepage&q=apricot%20seeds%20laurel&f=false]</ref>
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| − | ==Toxicity==
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| − | Leaves and seed may cause severe discomfort to humans if ingested.<ref>{{cite book|title=RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants|year=2008|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=United Kingdom|isbn=1405332964|pages=1136}}</ref> The seeds contained within the cherries are poisonous like the rest of the plant, containing [[Glycoside|cyanogenic glycosides]] and [[amygdalin]].<ref name=Toxicology>[http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/Prunula.htm Poisonous Plants: Prunus Laurocerasus]</ref> This chemical composition is what gives the smell of almonds when the leaves are crushed. [[Laurel water]], a [[distillation]] made from the plant, contains [[prussic acid]] ([[hydrogen cyanide]]) and other compounds and is toxic.
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| − | ==Similar species==
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| − | ''Prunus lusitanica'', Portuguese laurel, is similar sharply toothed leaves and red petioles.<ref>Parnell, J. and Curtis, T. 2012 ''Webb's An Irish Flora.'' {{ISBN|{{978-185918-4783}}</ref>
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| | ==References== | | ==References== |
| | {{Reflist}} | | {{Reflist}} |
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| − | == External links ==
| + | {{Ack-Wikipedia}} |
| − | {{Commons category|Prunus laurocerasus}} | |
| − | * [http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Prunus%20laurocerasus Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia: Prunus laurocerasus]
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| − | * {{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Cherry Laurel |short=x}}
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| − | {{Taxonbar|from=Q157508}}
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| − | [[Category:Prunus|laurocerasus]] | + | [[Category:Prunus]] |
| − | [[Category:Flora of Europe]]
| + | [[Category:Plants Keenan has eaten]] |
| − | [[Category:Flora of Western Asia]]
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| − | [[Category:Flora of Albania]]
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| − | [[Category:Flora of Bulgaria]]
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| − | [[Category:Flora of Turkey]]
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| − | [[Category:Flora of Azerbaijan]]
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| − | [[Category:Flora of Georgia (country)]]
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| − | [[Category:Flora of Armenia]]
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| − | [[Category:Flora of Iran]]
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| − | [[Category:Invasive plant species in Europe]]
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| − | [[Category:Invasive plant species in the United States]]
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| − | [[Category:Poisonous plants]]
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| − | [[Category:Garden plants of Asia]]
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| − | [[Category:Garden plants of Europe]]
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| − | [[Category:Plants described in 1753]] | |
