Wonders of the Bay (range: scale, sprains, ulcers diminutive) - from the perspective of South Africa

Bay, sweet

Laurus nobilis

Family Lauraceae

Language and mythology

Laurus is Latin for "laurel tree" nobilis means "famous". In early Greece and Rome, Bay has been associated with glory and honor and reward. Bay is also commonly called a bay. The victorious battle in the sport and have been crowned with a laurel wreath crown. Bay also had a role in the legendary story of Apollo and Daphne, and wasassociated with romance.

Description: This tree is densely covered with attractive large glossy, narrow, dark green leaves 2 to 4 inches long and 1 inch with. The thick, leathery leaves are wavy, a bit 'margins variables. The flowers are yellow-green, are devoid of petals and not very ornamental. Pruning the lower limbs and the rounding of the tip creates an elegant look. The bark is shiny black, and the fruit is a dark purple to black berry sown about 1 / 2Inches long.

Type of installation and robustness: an evergreen tree, Climate eighth plant type and height and width and height averages out to 10 feet (wild plants can reach 23 feet) width varies. Light and soil Full sun to part shade, moderately fertile, well drained soil with a pH of 6.2.

Pests and diseases: Susceptible to scale white wax, which makes the leaves sooty and unattractive and delayed leafGrowth.

Cultivation: Bay trees make excellent tub specimens, especially since grown with the lower branches and reduce when the tip rounded. The seeds are difficult to propagate, but cuttings can be successful if in the spring, taken after the leaves have hardened. Keep cuttings at any time and plant in containers where their roots watered. Bay trees grow slowly, but after a year in pots that can be transplanted in the garden or in a larger container.

CompanionPlanting: Growing Bay near other plants is not a problem if the tree is too large and the roots take food from the surrounding soil.

Propagation method: Cuttings to grow from seeds and heavy.

Flowering time and color: March to May, yellow-green.

Collection: the bay leaves and can be harvested and dried throughout the year. Earlier in the day, cut or pick individual older leaves, if necessary. ToSheets of curling during drying, put them on plates with books on top. The leaves should dry in about two weeks. In airtight containers.

Herbs used cosmetic, culinary, decorative and medicinal products: scented oil is added to water for a bath to soothe the skin. use of the kitchen is mostly in soups, stews and tomato sauces. aromas of bay leaf and shellfish boils, pickling brines game, and herbal teas. Remember to remove bay leaf before serving. The treeeven if the formal cutting decorative shapes. The branches can be used dried or fresh herb wreaths and potpourri to add fragrance. Laurel to have some medicinal properties. Internally for indigestion, loss of appetite, colic and flatulence. Outside Bay is dandruff, rheumatism, sprains, bruises, ulcers Atomic, scabies and control.

Garden Notes: Bay tree can be trained as topiary.