Laurel

Laurel, family (Lauraceae) of evergreen trees and shrubs that grow in the tropics and subtropics. The flowers are inconspicuous and last for only a short time before forming a berry. The classical, or bay, laurel (Laurus nobilis), which produces the bay leaf used popularly as a seasoning, is a native of the Mediterranean. It was sacred to Apollo, and its shiny leaves were woven into garlands by the Greeks and Romans. Other laurels include avocado, camphor, cinnamon, and sassafras.