1.
Cinnamomum tamala
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It can grow up to 20 m tall. It has aromatic leaves which are used for culinary and medicinal purposes and it is thought to have been one of the major sources of the medicinal plant leaves known in classic and medieval times as malabathrum. It is called biryani aaku or bagharakku in Telugu, true tejpat leaves impart a strong cassia- or cinnamon-like aroma to dishes, while the bay laurel leafs aroma is more reminiscent of pine and lemon. Beta-caryophyllene Linalool Caryophyllene oxide Eugenol The bark is sometimes used for cooking. Methanolic extract of C. C. tamala could be used as a therapy in diabetes. Malabar had been used to denote the west coast of Southern India that forms the covering the present-day state of Kerala. The word mala or malaya means mountain in the Tamil and Malayalam languages, the word malabathrum is also thought to have been derived from the Sanskrit tamālapattram, literally meaning dark-tree leaves. Cassia Cinnamon Saigon cinnamon Indian bay-leaf page from Gernot Katzers Spice Pages
2.
Laurus nobilis
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Laurus nobilis is an aromatic evergreen tree or large shrub with green, glabrous leaves, in the flowering plant family Lauraceae. It is native to the Mediterranean region and is used as bay leaf for seasoning in cooking and its common names include bay laurel, sweet bay, bay, true laurel, Grecian laurel, laurel tree or simply laurel. Laurus nobilis figures prominently in classical Greek, Roman, and Biblical culture, the laurel is an evergreen shrub or small tree, variable in size and sometimes reaching 7–18 metres tall. The genus Laurus includes four accepted species, whose diagnostic key characters often overlap, the bay laurel is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants. Each flower is pale yellow-green, about 1 cm diameter, the leaves are glabrous, 6–12 cm long and 2–4 cm broad, with an entire margin. On some leaves the margin undulates, the fruit is a small, shiny black berry-like drupe about 1 cm long that contains one seed. A recent study found considerable genetic diversity within L. nobilis, Laurus nobilis is a widespread relic of the laurel forests that originally covered much of the Mediterranean Basin when the climate of the region was more humid. With the drying of the Mediterranean during the Pliocene era, the forests gradually retreated. The most abundant component found in essential oil is 1, 8-cineole. Both essential and fatty oils are present in the fruit, the fruit is pressed and water-extracted to obtain these products. The fruit contains up to 30% fatty oils and about 1% essential oils, the plant is the source of several popular herbs and one spice used in a wide variety of recipes, particularly among Mediterranean cuisines. Most commonly, the leaves are added whole to Italian pasta sauces. They are typically removed from dishes before serving, unless used as a simple garnish, whole bay leaves have a long shelf life of about one year, under normal temperature and humidity. Whole bay leaves are used almost exclusively as flavor agents during the preparation stage. Ground bay leaves, however, can be ingested safely and are used in soups and stocks. Dried laurel berries and pressed leaf oil can both be used as robust spices, and the wood can be burnt for strong smoke flavoring, aqueous extracts of bay laurel can also be used as astringents and even as a reasonable salve for open wounds. In massage therapy, the oil of bay laurel is reputed to alleviate arthritis and rheumatism, while in aromatherapy, it is used to treat earaches. A traditional folk remedy for rashes caused by poison ivy, poison oak, the chemical compound lauroside B isolated from Laurus nobilis is an inhibitor of human melanoma cell proliferation at high concentrations in-vitro
3.
Lauraceae
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Lauraceae are the laurel family, that includes the true laurel and its closest relatives. This family of flowering plants comprises about 2850 known species in about 45 genera worldwide and they are dicotyledons, and occur mainly in warm temperate and tropical regions, especially Southeast Asia and South America. Many are aromatic evergreen trees or shrubs, but some, such as Sassafras, are deciduous, Cassytha is a genus unique to the Lauraceae family in that it is a genus of parasitic vines. The family has a distribution in tropical and warm climates. The Lauraceae are important components of tropical forests ranging from low-lying to montane, in several forested regions, Lauraceae are among the top five families in terms of the number of species present. Laurel forests of various types occur on most continents and on many major islands, although the taxonomy of the Lauraceae is still not settled, conservative estimates suggest some 52 genera worldwide, including 3,000 to 3,500 species. Compared to other plant families, the taxonomy of Lauraceae still is poorly understood and this is partly due to its great diversity, the difficulty of identifying the species, and partly because of inadequate investment in taxonomic work. Recent monographs on small and medium-sized genera of Lauraceae have revealed many new species, similar increases in the numbers of species recognised in other larger genera are to be expected. Most of the Lauraceae are evergreen trees in habit, exceptions include some two dozen species of Cassytha, all of which are obligately parasitic vines. The fruits of Lauraceae are drupes, one-seeded fleshy fruit with a hard layer, however, the endocarp is very thin, so the fruit resemble a one-seeded berry. In some Lindera species, the fruit have a hypocarpium at the base of the fruit, relict forests retain endemic fauna and flora in communities of great value in inferring the palaeontological succession and climate change that followed the breakups of the supercontinents. Many Lauraceae contain high concentrations of essential oils, some of which are valued for spices and perfumes, within the plants, most such substances are components of irritant or toxic sap or tissues that repel or poison many herbivorous or parasitic organisms. Some are valued in cooking, for example, bay leaves are an ingredient in European, American. Avocados are important oil-rich fruit that are cultivated in warm climates around the world, many species are exploited for timber. Some species are valued as sources of medicinal material, conversely, some species, though commercially valuable in some countries, are regarded as aggressive invaders in other regions. For example, Cinnamomum camphora, though a valued ornamental and medicinal plant, is so invasive as to have declared a weed in subtropical forested areas of South Africa. Lauraceae flowers are protogynous, often with a complex flowering system to prevent inbreeding, the fruits are an important food source for birds, on which some Palaeognathae are highly dependent. Other birds that rely heavily on the fruit for their diets include members of the families Cotingidae, Columbidae, Trogonidae, Turdidae, birds that are specialised frugivores tend to eat the whole fruit and regurgitate seeds intact, thereby releasing the seeds in favourable situations for germination
4.
Umbellularia
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Umbellularia californica is a large hardwood tree native to coastal forests of California and slightly extended into the state of Oregon. It is endemic to the California Floristic Province and it is the sole species in the genus Umbellularia. The tree was known as Oreodaphne californica. In Oregon, this tree is known as Oregon myrtle, while in California it is called California bay laurel and it has also been called pepperwood, spicebush, cinnamon bush, peppernut tree, headache tree, mountain laurel, and balm of heaven. The trees pungent leaves have a flavor to bay leaves, though stronger. The dry wood has a range from blonde to brown. It is considered a world-class tonewood and is sought after by luthiers and woodworkers, the tree is a host of the pathogen that causes sudden oak death. This tree mostly inhabits redwood forests, California mixed woods, yellow pine forest, bays occur in oak woodlands only close to the coast, or in extreme northern California where moisture is sufficient. During the Miocene, oak-laurel forests were found in Central and Southern California, typical tree species included oaks ancestral to present-day California oaks, and an assemblage of trees from the laurel family, including Nectandra, Ocotea, Persea, and Umbellularia. Only one native species from the family, Umbellularia californica. In the north, it reaches its distributional limit through southwest Oregon to Newport, Lincoln County, Oregon, on the coast and it is also found in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It occurs at altitudes from sea level up to 1600 m, an isolated, more northern occurrence of the species can be found in Tacoma, Washington, around Snake Lake near the Tacoma Nature Center. It is a tree growing to 30 m tall with a trunk up to 80 cm thick. The largest recorded tree is in Mendocino County, California, the fragrant leaves are smooth-edged and lance-shaped, 3–10 cm long and 1. 5–3 cm broad, similar to the related bay laurel, though usually narrower, and without the crinkled margin of that species. The flowers are small, yellow or yellowish-green, produced in small umbels, the fruit, also known as California bay nut, is a round and green berry 2–2.5 cm long and 2 cm broad, lightly spotted with yellow, maturing purple. Under the thin, leathery skin, it consists of an oily, fleshy covering over a hard, thin-shelled pit. Umbellularia is in fact related to the avocados genus Persea. The fruit ripens around October–November in the native range, Umbellularia has long been valued for its many uses by Native Americans throughout the trees range, including the Cahuilla, Chumash, Pomo, Miwok, Yuki, Coos, and Salinan people
5.
Cinnamomum cassia
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Cinnamomum cassia, called Chinese cassia or Chinese cinnamon, is an evergreen tree originating in southern China, and widely cultivated there and elsewhere in southern and eastern Asia. It is one of several species of Cinnamomum used primarily for their aromatic bark, in the United States, Chinese cassia is the most common type of cinnamon used. The buds are used as a spice, especially in India. The tree grows to 10–15 m tall, with bark and hard. Chinese cassia is a relative to Ceylon cinnamon, Saigon cinnamon, also known as Vietnamese cinnamon, Indonesian cinnamon, also called korintje. In all five species, the bark is used as a spice. Chinese cassias flavour is less delicate than that of Ceylon cinnamon and its bark is thicker, more difficult to crush, and has a rougher texture than that of Ceylon cinnamon. Most of the spice sold as cinnamon in the United States, United Kingdom, Indonesian cinnamon is sold in much smaller amounts. Chinese cassia is produced in both China and Vietnam, until the 1960s, Vietnam was the worlds most important producer of Saigon cinnamon, which has a higher oil content, and consequently has a stronger flavor. Because of the caused by the Vietnam War, however. Indonesian cassia has the lowest oil content of the three types of cassia, so commands the lowest price, Chinese cassia has a sweeter flavor than Indonesian cassia, similar to Saigon cinnamon, but with lower oil content. Cassia bark is used as a agent for confectionery, desserts, pastries, and meat, it is specified in many curry recipes. Cassia is sometimes added to Ceylon cinnamon, but is a thicker, coarser product. Cassia is sold as pieces of bark or as neat quills or sticks, cassia buds, although rare, are also occasionally used as a spice. They resemble cloves in appearance and have a mild, flowery cinnamon flavor, cassia buds are primarily used in old-fashioned pickling recipes, marinades, and teas. Chinese cassia is produced primarily in the provinces of Guangxi, Guangdong. It is considered one of the 50 fundamental herbs in traditional Chinese medicine, due to a blood-thinning component called coumarin, which could damage the liver if taken in huge amounts, European health agencies have warned against consuming high amounts of cassia. Other bioactive compounds found in the bark, powder and essential oils of C. cassia are cinnamaldehyde, in high doses these substances can also be toxic for humans
6.
Pimenta racemosa
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Pimenta racemosa is a species of plant in the myrtle family that is native to the Caribbean region. Common names include West Indian bay tree, bay rum tree, the tree is 4-12 m tall and the white flowers, about 10 mm wide, become black, oval fruits measuring 7-12 mm. The plants are now grown widely in tropical areas, including Oceania. The ideal conditions for P. racemosa are regular irrigation and bright sunshine, Pimenta racemosa is widely introduced, and can become an invasive weed. Data related to Pimenta racemosa at Wikispecies Media related to Pimenta racemosa at Wikimedia Commons
7.
Eau de Cologne
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Eau de Cologne, or simply cologne, is a perfume originating from Cologne, Germany. In a base of ethanol, eau de cologne contains a mixture of citrus oils including oils of lemon, orange, tangerine, clementine, bergamot, lime, grapefruit, blood orange. It can also contain oils of neroli, lavender, rosemary, thyme, oregano, petitgrain, jasmine, olive, oleaster, in contemporary American English usage, the term cologne has become a generic term for perfumes usually marketed towards men. The original Eau de Cologne is a spirit-citrus perfume launched in Cologne in 1709 by Giovanni Maria Farina, an Italian perfume maker from Santa Maria Maggiore Valle Vigezzo. In 1708, Farina wrote to his brother Jean Baptiste, I have found a fragrance that reminds me of an Italian spring morning, of mountain daffodils and he named his fragrance Eau de Cologne, in honour of his new hometown. The most famous Original Eau de Cologne is 4711, named after its location at Glockengasse No.4711 and it was also developed in the 18th century by Wilhelm Mülhens in Cologne and is therefore one of the oldest still produced fragrances in the world. On 12 December 2006, the perfumes and cosmetics company Mäurer & Wirtz took over 4711 from Procter & Gamble and has expanded it to a whole brand since then. The Eau de Cologne composed by Farina was used only as a perfume and his ability to produce a constantly homogeneous fragrance consisting of dozens of monoessences was seen as a sensation at the time. At the time, a vial of this aqua mirabilis cost half the annual salary of a civil servant. When free trade was established in Cologne by the French in 1797, Giovanni Maria Farinas formula has been produced in Cologne since 1709 by Farina opposite the Jülichplatz and to this day remains a secret. His shop at Obenmarspforten opened in 1709 and is today the worlds oldest fragrance factory, in 1806, Jean Marie Joseph Farina, a grand-grand-nephew of Giovanni Maria Farina, opened a perfumery business in Paris that was later sold to Roger & Gallet. That company now owns the rights to Eau de Cologne extra vieille in contrast to the Original Eau de Cologne from Cologne. Originally the water of Cologne was believed to have the power to ward off bubonic plague. By drinking the cologne the citrus oil scent would be exuded through the pores, much as flea shampoo for dogs can be based on citrus oils today. In modern times, Eau de Cologne or cologne, has become a generic term, the term cologne can be applied to perfume for men or women, but it conventionally refers to perfumes marketed towards men. In former Soviet countries, varieties of Troynoy Eau de Cologne may be used as a surrogate alcohol among poor alcoholics,4711 Cologne Johann Maria Farina gegenüber dem Jülichs-Platz Perfume Fenaroli, Giovanni, Maggesi, L. Acqua di Colonia. Rivista italiana essenze, profumi, piante offizinali, olii vegetali, le materie prime per lacqua di colonia. Physical Chemistry, Understanding Our Chemical World, variations on the Eau de Cologne Theme. Wilhelm, Jürgen, ed. Das große Köln-Lexikon, citations Works cited Eckstein, Markus, Sykes, John
8.
Bay rum
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Bay rum is a type of cologne/aftershave lotion. Other uses include as under-arm deodorant and as a fragrance for shaving soap and it is a distillate that was originally made in Saint Thomas and probably other West Indian islands from rum and the leaves and/or berries of the West Indian bay tree, Pimenta racemosa. Maisch added that it was probable that various species are made use of for the same purpose. Other ingredients may be citrus and spice oils, the most common being lime oil, oil of cloves and it was first made fashionable in New York and other American cities before it was available in Europe. Proprietary bay rum lotions are produced by labs in several West Indian countries, the original bay rum from St. Thomas by A. H. Riise continues to be produced locally in the US Virgin Islands by the West Indies Bay Company. The bay laurel, the bay leaves in common use, are from a completely unrelated species, Laurus nobilis. Bay laurel can be used to produce a similar, although not identical, product
9.
Litsea glaucescens
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Litsea glaucescens, also called Mexican Bay Leaf, is an evergreen tree or shrub 3–6 metres high in the genus Litsea belonging to Lauraceae family. It is native from southern North America, mostly in Mexico, distributed by Mexico and Central America. It is a shrub or small tree that grows to 1. 5–5 m high, the bark is brown, thick trunk. Young branches, glabrous, yellowish green, yellow or dark brown bark greenish or sometimes glabrous terminal buds sparsely pubescent, leaves are thin and long, with a constriction at the apex, solid green on the upper surface and lighter green below. Male flowers yellowish-white,3. 0-4.0 mm long, tepals 6, ca.3.0 mm long, fruits ca.1.0 cm diameter, black when mature, settled on a discoid small dome. It grows in the mountains, on the banks of rivers and is planted in the garden of houses and it is in danger of extinction, because it has been used extensively for various uses, medicinal and culinary purposes even religious during the celebration of Sunday de Ramos. The species is one of the most important non-wood trees of Mexico and this species has been exploited for different purposes, religious, dietary and medicinal, where the young branches and leaf tissues are used. This has resulted in an exploitation in virtually all their range. This species is recognized by the entirely glabrous stems and leaves and yellow-green twigs. Litsea glaucescens is quite common in forests of Mexico, coming to meet in the areas of contact with other vegetation types of affinity rather warm. It is very variable in size and shape of the leaves and as a result, plantas medicinales de la Región Cuicateca
