Umbellularia californica
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).