Bay tree Facts
Bay tree Facts
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| Interesting Bay tree Facts: |
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| Bay tree can grow as a tree with a single trunk or as bush composed of multiple trunks. It can reach from 33 to 59 feet in height. |
| Bay tree has smooth bark that is usually greenish grey or grey in color. |
| Bay tree produces evergreen, leathery leaves that are lanceolate in shape. Leaves have prominent midrib and wavy margins. |
| Bay tree blooms during the spring. Male and female flowers are produced on separate trees (bay tree is dioecious plant). Flowers are star-shaped, yellow-green in color and organized in pairs. They are fragrant and filled with nectar which attracts bees that are responsible for the pollination of this plant. |
| Fruit of bay tree is purple to black drupe filled with one seed. |
| Bay tree propagates via seed, cuttings and air-layering (rooting of the branches while they are still on the mother plant). |
| Bay leaves are used as condiment, to improve flavor of soups, casseroles, sauces and stews. Leaves can be used dry or fresh. Dried leaves are more aromatic. Unlike other spices, bay leaves are added at the beginning of cooking because they require time to release flavor. Bay leaves have sharp edges that can injure mouth, and they need to be removed from a dish before serving. Dried, ground leaves can be safely consumed. |
| Dried bay leaves are also used for the preparation of herbal tea. Ground bay leaves are ingredient of Bloody Mary cocktail. |
| Essential oils extracted from the bay leaves are used in cosmetic industry for the manufacture of various soaps and massage oils. |
| Fruit and leaves of bay tree are used in treatment of digestive disorders, bronchitis, influenza, hysteria, menstrual disorders, muscular sprains and earache. Oils extracted from the leaves has antibacterial (kill bacteria) and anti-fungal (kill fungi) properties. |
| Bay leaves has intense aroma that repel many insects. They can be used instead conventional insecticides in the gardens. |
| Wood of bay tree is used in the manufacture of walking sticks and decorative items made of multi-colored wood pieces (marqueterie work). |
| Wood of bay tree is sometimes used for smoking of meat because of its strong, aromatic smell. |
| Bay was symbol of victory and accomplishment in the past. Poets, athletes, soldiers and emperors in the ancient Greece and Rome were often wearing wreaths made of bay leaves. |
| Bay tree can survive more than 100 years in the wild. |
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