Holly, Yew and Box 



The Bay Laurel. In addition to this name 

 Laurus nobilis is known under several others, 

 such as, " Sweet Bay," " Poet's Laurel," and 

 " Roman Laurel." It is really the true Laurel, 

 and the plant used so extensively by the Greeks 

 and Romans in classical times, for twining into 

 wreaths wherewith to crown their heroes, probably 

 through this reason the names of Poet's and 

 Roman Laurel were given. It belongs to the 

 order Lauraceae, a family peculiar for the number 

 of more or less fragrant leaved plants it contains. 

 In the colder counties it is not very hardy, but 

 fine examples are met with from the midlands 

 southwards. At Margam Park, Port Talbot, it 

 assumes very large proportions, many trees being 

 upward of 40 feet high and as far across. The 

 leaves are more or less oval but acuminate at 

 both ends, bright green, 3 to 5 inches long and 

 i toij inches wide. They contain an aromatic 

 essence, which is made use of by cooks for 

 flavouring purposes. A small leaved variety is 

 known under the name of angustifolia ; it is 

 of neat address. At Osborne, I.W., several 

 specimens of a small foliaged variety may be 

 seen which have curiously wrinkled margins to 

 the leaves. Laurus nobilis is a native of the 

 Mediterranean region. 



The Sheep Laurel. This is a North American 

 shrub belonging to Ericaceae. Its correct 

 name is Kalmia angustifolia, and it forms 



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