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. 



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