Prunus lusitanica
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Prunus lusitanica | |
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Scientific classification | |
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Laurocerasus
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P. lusitanica
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Binomial name | |
Prunus lusitanica |
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Prunus lusitanica, the Portugal laurel,[3] is a species of the genus Prunus, related to the cherry. It is native to southwestern France, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and Macaronesia (the Azores, Canary Islands and Madeira).[4][5]
Distribution
Prunus lusitanica is rare in the wild, found mainly along mountain streams, preferring sunshine and moist but well-drained soils. It is moderately drought-tolerant. It reproduces either sexually (the most successful method) or asexually by cloning from shoots.[6]
The species was first scientifically described by Linnaeus in Species Plantarum in 1753. Its specific epithet lusitanica means of Lusitania, the Roman name for Portugal.
Description
Prunus lusitanica is an evergreen shrub or small tree growing to 3-4m tall. It will grow to 20 foot high according to some references.[7] The bark is blackish-brown, The leaves are alternate, oval, 7–12 cm long and 3–5 cm broad, with an acute apex and a dentate margin, glossy dark green above, lighter below. They superficially resemble those of the Bay laurel, which accounts for its often being mistaken for one.
The flowers are small (10–15 mm diameter) with five small white petals; they are produced on erect or spreading racemes 15–25 cm long in late spring. The fruit is a small cherry-like drupe 8–13 mm in diameter, green or reddish green at first, turning dark purple or black when ripe in late summer or early autumn.[8]
- Subspecies
Three subspecies are accepted:[4][dead link]
- Prunus lusitanica subsp. lusitanica. Mainland Europe.
- Prunus lusitanica subsp. azorica (Mouill.) Franco. Azores.[9]
- Prunus lusitanica subsp. hixa (Willd.) Franco. Canary Islands, Madeira, Morocco.
Cultivation
Prunus lusitanica is grown as an ornamental shrub and is widely planted as a hedge and for screening in gardens and parks. It is introduced and locally naturalised in the temperate zone in northern France, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, and the western United States in California, Oregon and Washington State.
Similar to its relative Prunus laurocerasus, P. lusitanica has been recognized by some botanists and land managers in both western Washington and Oregon as invasive. It is thought to have spread from cultivated areas into natural areas by birds who consume and defecate the fruits away from the source plant.
It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[10]
Toxicity
The leaves of Prunus lusitanica contain cyanide and will release this into the environment if burnt[11] or if crushed.[12] The fruit is somewhat edible if fully ripe, but if it is bitter, it is toxic and should not be eaten.[13]
References
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- ↑ Rehder, A. 1940, reprinted 1977. Manual of cultivated trees and shrubs hardy in North America exclusive of the subtropical and warmer temperate regions. Macmillan publishing Co., Inc, New York.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Euro+Med Plantbase Project: Prunus lusitanica
- ↑ Germplasm Resources Information Network: Prunus lusitanica
- ↑ Alarcon, J. A. C. (2001). Geobotany and Conservation Biology Study on Prunus lusitanica L. Iberian populations. Departamento de Biologia. Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid. Available online (pdf file).
- ↑ Hay, R. (Ed) 1978. Reader's Digest Encyclopedia of Garden Plants and Flowers. Reader's Digest Association Limited, London.
- ↑ Rushforth, K. (1999). Trees of Britain and Europe. Collins ISBN 0-00-220013-9.
- ↑ Note: common names for Prunus lusitanica azorica include Ginja, Gingeira-brava and Ginjeira-do-Mato. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.,
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- ↑ Plants for a Future: Prunus lusitanica
- Pages with reference errors
- Pages with broken file links
- Articles with unsourced statements from November 2009
- Articles with dead external links from October 2014
- Commons category link is defined as the pagename
- Prunus
- Angiosperms of Metropolitan France
- Flora of Spain
- Flora of Portugal
- Flora of Morocco
- Flora of Macaronesia
- Flora of the Azores
- Flora of the Canary Islands
- Flora of Madeira
- Invasive plant species in Australia
- Invasive plant species in New Zealand
- Invasive plant species in the United States
- Garden plants of Africa
- Garden plants of Europe
- Drought-tolerant plants
- Plants described in 1753