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bay tree
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sweet bay
Historical uses of bay leaves
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sweet bay
sweet bay Sweet bay, or bay laurel (Laurus nobilis).

bay tree

plant, Laurus species
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Also known as: Laurus nobilis, bay, bay laurel, sweet bay
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bay leaf
bay laurel
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bay tree, any of several trees with aromatic leaves, especially the sweet bay, or bay laurel (Laurus nobilis; family Lauraceae), source of the bay leaf used in cooking. Native to the Mediterranean region, sweet bay is an attractive evergreen tree that can reach as many as 18 metres (60 feet) in height. Male and female flowers are borne separately on individual trees. The thick leathery leaves are roughly oval in shape and are glossy dark green in colour.

Historical uses of bay leaves
Historical uses of bay leavesOverview of bay (or laurel) leaf.
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The related California laurel (Umbellularia californica) is an ornamental tree also called the bay tree. The bay rum tree, or simply bay (Pimenta racemosa), has leaves and twigs that, when distilled, yieldoil of bay, which is used in perfumery and in the preparation of bay rum; it is a member of the family Myrtaceae.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.