Edible Sierra Nevada Plants
Dicotyledon Genera Descriptions

How To Use The Descriptions For Further Research

You may research other species listed by selecting the italicized links.
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Lauraceae - Laurel Family


Evergreen, pungently aromatic tree (shrub in drier climates); bark greenish to reddish brown, smooth; leaves oblong to oblong lanceolate, 3-8 cm long, 1.5-3 cm wide, short petioled, yellowish green; flowers 6-10 in an umbel, yellow green; drupe usually solitary, round, 2-2.5 cm long, greenish becoming dark purple when ripe.


Bay Tree/California Laurel

Umbellularia californica

The seeds may be parched or roasted in the ashes of a fire and then cracked and eaten or ground and molded into small biscuits. The fresh seeds store well but are bitter if not parched or roasted. The leaves may be used as a spice (bay leaf).

Umbellularia californica
CalFlora Record




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