Persea borbonia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Persea borbonia |
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| Persea borbonia leaves | |
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Persea
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| Species: |
borbonia
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Persea borbonia is a type of plant that belongs to the Lauraceae family. It has many common names, like redbay, tisswood, scrubbay, shorebay, and swampbay.
This plant is one of about 150 species in the Persea group. It is an evergreen tree that grows naturally in the Southeastern United States.
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What Does the Redbay Look Like?
The Persea borbonia can grow as a small tree or a large shrub. Its leaves stay green all year round. They are usually about 3 to 6 inches long and shaped like a spear. If you crush the leaves, they give off a spicy smell. The leaves can be bright green or dark green.
These trees also grow small, round fruits. These fruits are blue or black when they are ripe. The redbay is a perennial plant, which means it lives for more than two years. Its stem is woody, not soft like a flower stem.
Where Does the Redbay Grow?
Persea borbonia grows along the coasts of the southeastern United States. You can find it in the lowlands of Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and eastern North Carolina. There are also a few small groups of these trees in coastal Virginia, and near the Maryland and Delaware state line. It also grows in the Bahamas and is grown in Hawaii. It often grows near the edges of swampy areas.
Sadly, the redbay tree is slowly dying in the Southern United States. This is because of an insect called the redbay ambrosia beetle. This beetle arrived in 2002 near Savannah, Georgia. It carries a laurel wilt fungal disease. This disease is what kills the redbay trees. However, experts believe the species will probably not disappear completely. This is because it seems to grow back on its own to some extent.
How Do People Use Redbay?
Today, the redbay plant is not widely used for medicine. But in the past, members of the Seminole tribe used it to make themselves vomit. The dried leaves of the redbay can also be used as a spice in cooking.
The wood from the redbay tree is strong and hard. It can be used to build boats, make cabinets, and line the inside of buildings. This wood is not sold everywhere. So, it is mostly used in the areas where P. borbonia grows naturally.
Cultivation
Persea borbonia is grown as an ornamental tree. This means people plant it in gardens and parks because it looks nice.
Wildlife
Animals like deer and bears eat the leaves and fruits of the redbay. Birds, including turkeys, only eat the plant's bitter fruit.
