Prunus lusitanica
Common name
Portugese laurel
Family
Rosaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
Conservation status
Not applicable
Habitat
Terrestrial.
Detailed description
Large evergreen tree to 7 m high. Leaves more or less elliptic 70-140 by 25-60 mm, and on short petioles 15-25 mm long, more or less purplish. Leaves glossy above and below, with slightly impressed veins above, leaf margins finely toothed. Inflorescence a fairly dense raceme of 47-77 white flowers. Fruit 10-12 mm long, ovoid, smooth glossy purplish black.
Similar taxa
With P. laurocerasus, P. lusitanica is in the sub genus Laurocerasus (Cherry Laurels) these are distinguished from other prunus species by the evergreen leaves and pedicellate flowers. P lusitanica can be distinguished from P. laurocerasus by the crenate-serrate leaf margin, more or less purplish petioles and the leaves usually smaller than the racemes.
Flowering
November, December
Flower colours
White
Fruiting
March-May
Year naturalised
1988
Origin
Spain, Portugal, Azores
Reason For Introduction
Ornamental
Life Cycle Comments
Perennial.
Reproduction
Seed.
Seed
Yes
Dispersal
Seed are spread by birds (Webb et al 1988).
Tolerances
Young plants are shade tolerant.