Conical tree to 15 m or so tall, sometimes cut at the base to form a multi-trunked shrub-like plant. Young shoots hairless or with sparse hair. Leaves narrowly-elliptic, 5-10 cm long, dark green and glossy above with wavy margins, hairless below. Flowers unisexual, yellowish-green in axillary clusters. Male flowers with mostly 9-12 stamens each with 2 basal glands; spring. Fruit glossy black, more or less round.

S Europe, Canary Islands

Dry leaves are the 'bay' leaves used in cookery to flavour stews, soups etc.

Leaves with distinctive 'bay' aroma when crushed; shoots not or hardly downy.

SA: Adelaide Botanic Garden. ACT: Australian National University, Rear of University House. VIC: Hamilton (Hamilton Botanic Gardens); Malmsbury (Malmsbury Botanic Gardens); Melbourne (Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria).

Source: Spencer, R. (1997). Lauraceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.