THE CALIFORNIA LAUREL 



Umbellularia californica NUTT. 



The California Bay is a close relative 

 of the Sassafras of the Eastern United 

 States and like it is a lover of damp soils 

 and clings to the cool stream borders. 

 The deep, green, willow-like leaves are 

 as glossy as satin and exceedingly rich 

 in an oil whose spicy fragrance per- 

 fumes the air for considerable distances 

 about the tree. The small greenish-yel- 

 low flowers appear from January to 

 April, in small clusters at the ends of the 

 branches. 



"The native tribes roasted the nuts 

 and used them for food, but apparently 

 did not eat great quantities of them at a 

 time, using them rather as a stimulant 

 or condiment. As prepared by the In- 

 dians they are not merely edible but 

 sweet as chestnuts." Jepson. The oil 

 has anti-septic and anesthetic properties 

 and is useful as a flea exterminator. 



