Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Magnoliids: Laurales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA (11/30/12):
Persea borbonia
FAMILY
Lauraceae
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Learn more about Persea from the Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Persea borbonia
FAMILY
Lauraceae
INCLUDED WITHIN
VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 084-01-001:
Persea borbonia
FAMILY
Lauraceae
COMMON NAME:
Upland Redbay
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
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USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913 pnd_pebo_001_lvd
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USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide pnd_pebo_004_lvd
)
Richard and Teresa Ware rtw_p_borbonia_redbay_4
March
)
Richard and Teresa Ware rtw_p_borbonia_redbay_5
March
Leaf blade leathery, elliptical to oblong, tapering at both ends, 2-8" long, per Native Trees of the Southeast, An Identification Guide.
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Richard and Teresa Ware rtw_persea_borbornia
March
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JK Marlow jkm180505_1796
May Pike County GA
Camp Thunder VPA
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Will Stuart wil_9047978143_3e3c22e9b2
September Hyde County NC
Outer Banks
A tree occasionally 60-70' tall and 2' in diameter, per Native Trees of the Southeast, An Identification Guide.
)
Will Stuart wil_9047996259_2d229b3891
September New Hanover County NC
New Hanover County Arboretum
The aromatic, spicy leaves have been used for flavoring soups & meat dishes, per Native Trees of the Southeast, An Identification Guide.
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Will Stuart wil_9050229980_b45c65df81
September New Hanover County NC
New Hanover County Arboretum
Fruit a lustrous dark blue drupe, to 1/2" long, w yellow-orange peduncles, per Native Trees of the Southeast, An Identification Guide.
COMPARE
fruit of Lauraceae family
WEAKLEY'S FLORA (11/30/12):
Persea borbonia
FAMILY
Lauraceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Persea borbonia
FAMILY
Lauraceae
INCLUDED WITHIN
VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 084-01-001:
Persea borbonia
FAMILY
Lauraceae
1050
Shrub; Tree
Perennial
Native to the Carolinas & Georgia
Documented growing wild in GA NC SC
Rare north of FL, becoming rarer
Look for it on dunes, in maritime forests, in dry sandy soils on barrier islands (known only north to Carteret County, NC). Becoming more rare with the destruction of most maritime and near coastal upland forests for the construction of vacation homes and tourist accomodations, per Weakley's Flora
Click here to see a more detailed map from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Herbarium,
or click here to see a map from SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
LEAVES:
Evergreen
Simple
Alternate
FLOWER:
Spring/Summer
Yellowish
Bisexual
Radially symmetrical
3-merous
6 persistent tepals
9-12 stamens (inner 3 sterile)
Superior ovary
FRUIT:
Summer/Fall
Blue/Black
Drupe
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
- Gardening with Native Plants of the South p058
- Guide to the Wildflowers of SC p354
- Landscaping with Native Trees p255
- Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants p034
- Native Shrubs and Woody Vines of the Southeast p061
- Native Trees of the Southeast, An Identification Guide p227
- Trees of the Southeastern United States p213
- Woody Plants of the Southeastern US: A Winter Guide p230