Don- I just know whenever I've handled it , it left me nauseous. I prefer the scent of Ailanthus to Umbellularia. Sorry.
Steve On Wed, Nov 18, 2009 at 12:10 AM, DON BERTOLETTE <[email protected]>wrote: > WNTS/ENTS/Steve/Jenny- > For the record, Umbellaria californica is an excellent wood for woodworkers > with wonderful grain and durability...it does lead to alarming aromatic > qualities due to it's "carminative properties" <grin>, but as to it's > toxicity, note the following: > Bay; Laurel > *(Laurus<http://www.luvnpeas.org/edibility/edibleArticles/Laurus.html>Nobilis; > Umbellaria californica) > * Categories<http://www.luvnpeas.org/edibility/edibleFiles/edibleCats.html> > > - *USDA Zones*: (7)890 > - *Plant Type*: Tree > - *Yield*: Fair > - *Storable*: 5 months > - *Bears*: Promptly > - *Shape*: Mounded > - *Height*: 10-25ft > - *Spread*: ? > - *Lifespan*: ? > - *Growth*: Slow > - *Pruning*: Optional > - *Origin*: Europe > - *Food Type*: Herb, > - *Appearance*: Evergreen,Ornamental, > - *Uses*: Cooked,Dried,Shade,Hedge,Windbreak,Good Bugs, > - *Misc. Features*: Self-productive,Seedlings,Fragrant,Pottable, > - *Prefers*: None > - *Rejects*: Wind,Soggy soil, > - *Problems*: [MINIMAL], > - *Cycles*: Continuous harvest > > *Harvest & Use* > Bay leaves can be picked any time of year. They ward off evil spirits (but > you gotta Believe), weevils, fleas, and lice. They also make themselves > useful in soups, casseroles, and (I read this on the Internet) martinis. > Supposedly, they go well in uncolas (7-Up, Sprite, etc.): Experiment on your > kid. The effect of a leaf in soup is intensified by mincing. The flavor is > less intense when the leaves are fresh. The laurel makes a good hedge when > regularly clipped. The flowers attract bees. Many other plants with the name > "laurel" are not true laurels and as a pleasant surprise tend to be toxic, > e.g., cherry laurel, rose laurel, and mountain laurel. However, California > bay (AKA Oregon myrtle) is a pungent, but safe, substitute for sweet bay. > *Appearance* > A broad-leafed evergreen tree reaching 35' in height in zones 9 and 10, > less in colder regions. Young leaves are elliptical, dark glossy green, > growing dull with age. > *Cultivation* > Bay will grow in most soils; ideal pH is 6.2. It prefers sun but will > tolerate some shade. Hardy to about 5ยก F. Propagate easily from cuttings of > current year's growth. > *Comment* > Sweet bay, the culinary standard, is L. nobilis. California bay is U. > californica. Both contain eugenol, the active ingredient in oil of bay (also > oil of clove). Eugenol is carminative, which is science-talk for "It makes > you burp and fart" (Atkins:135). > ------------------------------ > Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:50:18 -0500 > > Subject: Re: [ENTS] Forests/Trees in opera (go ahead and delete...) > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > > Jenny, ENTS- > > Umbellularia is a really dangerous plant, IMHO--the aromatic principle it > has doesn't cure headaches, but causes them--sort of like Vick's Vapo-Rub > combined with oxycontin, on steroids. Walking through a woods might be > pleasant, but handling the cut branches for Christmas wreaths is very > distressing. I'll chew a Sassafras root any day, but I'll leave the other > Laurel family members alone. > > Steve > > On Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 11:31 PM, <[email protected]> wrote: > > Nice looking tree. Another candidate for the Be My Umbrella, Tree. Thanks > Don. > > Umbellaria californica (Pepperwood, Oregon Myrtle, California Laurel, > California Bay Laurel, or...headache tree!) > > I assume this species could grow in the soil of Persia circa 500 BC? And if > there were black-tailed deer in Persia, they love this tree so it would be > good for hunting parties. In addition to the tree, Xerxes loves Romilda, but > Romilda and Arsamene are in love. And Amastre (the long-suffering mezzo, the > parts I usually "get" to play) is most passionately in love with Xerses. It > all works out in this particular opera... > > pics of tree and a twig w/leaves > > Jenny > > -- > Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org > Send email to [email protected] > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en > To unsubscribe send email to > [email protected]<entstrees%[email protected]> > > > > -- > Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org > Send email to [email protected] > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en > To unsubscribe send email to > [email protected]<entstrees%[email protected]> > ------------------------------ > Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. Sign up > now.<http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141665/direct/01/> > > -- > Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org > Send email to [email protected] > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en > To unsubscribe send email to > [email protected]<entstrees%[email protected]> > -- Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org Send email to [email protected] Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en To unsubscribe send email to [email protected]
