Daphne laureola, commonly called spurge-laurel,[1] is a shrub in the flowering plant family Thymelaeaceae. Despite the name, this woodland plant is neither a spurge nor a laurel. Its native range covers much of Europe and extends to Algeria, Morocco and the Azores.[1]
Daphne laureola reaches a height between 0.5–1.5 m (1.6–4.9 ft). The habit of this shrub can be upright or decumbent (arched at the base then spreading upward). The bark is thin and yellow-grey when mature, while immature stems are green. The cambium is malodorous with a scent reminiscent of herb robert.[citation needed]
The alternate leaves usually form dense whorls at the shoot tips, but may clothe entire branches. The leaves are oblanceolate to obovate-oblanceolate, 2–13 cm long and 1–3 cm wide. They are glabrous (smooth), dark green and glossy on the upper surface and lighter in color beneath.
The inconspicuous yellow-green axial flowers, usually hidden among the leaf bases, may be strongly fragrant, or may exhibit no scent at all.[2]
Distribution and habitatEdit
With Daphne mezereum it is one of two species of Daphne native to Great Britain, both of which have a strong preference for alkaline soils and are most commonly found in limestone areas, although D. laureola is also found on clay.[3] However, unlike D. mezereum, D. laureola is evergreen, with yellowish green flowers borne very early in the spring and black berries, which are poisonous to humans but not to birds, present from late summer.[4] All parts of the plants are poisonous. The sap is known to cause skin rashes on contact.
As an invasiveEdit
Outside its native range, D. laureola can become a dangerous invasive weed. Growing in sun or shade, it is well-suited to the temperateforestunderstory and can rapidly colonize areas (both by seeding and by root suckering) to form monotypic stands and out-compete native vegetation. It is a Class B Noxious weed in Washington state.[5] Already a weed under native forests in Tasmania, Australia,[6][7] and New Zealand.[8]
Mentioned on 5th Dec 1783, called dwarf laurels, by Gilbert White who “fetched them” from the high wood and hanger at Selborne and planted them in his garden.[9]
Hand-pulling is effective against small infestations (gloves must be worn to protect against the caustic sap); shrubs too large or too small to pull must be dug out.[2]
^ abWashington State Noxious Weed Control Board: Daphne laureola
^Stace, Clive (2010). New Flora of the British Isles (3rd ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN978-0-521-70772-5. pp. 381–382.
^The Reader's Digest Field Guide to the Trees and Shrubs of Britain p.123.
^. Archived from the original on 2008-08-21. Retrieved 2008-09-09.
^Baker, ML (January 2013). "Daphne laureola L. (Thymelaeaceae): A weedy alien species new to Australia" – via ResearchGate.
^"Daphne Laurel". Hobartcity.au. 2021. from the original on 2021-07-13. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
^"Green Daphne Laurel". Weed Busters New Zealand. 2021. from the original on 2021-02-02. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
^The English Year, compiled by Geoffrey Grigson O.U.P 1967
^ abGledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. ISBN9780521866453 (hardback), ISBN9780521685535 (paperback). pp 134, 232
Daphne laureola info
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Daphne laureola.
Wikispecies has information related to Daphne laureola.
daphne, laureola, commonly, called, spurge, laurel, shrub, flowering, plant, family, thymelaeaceae, despite, name, this, woodland, plant, neither, spurge, laurel, native, range, covers, much, europe, extends, algeria, morocco, azores, flowerscientific, classif. Daphne laureola commonly called spurge laurel 1 is a shrub in the flowering plant family Thymelaeaceae Despite the name this woodland plant is neither a spurge nor a laurel Its native range covers much of Europe and extends to Algeria Morocco and the Azores 1 Daphne laureolaIn flowerScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade RosidsOrder MalvalesFamily ThymelaeaceaeGenus DaphneSpecies D laureolaBinomial nameDaphne laureolaL Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 2 1 As an invasive 3 Etymology 4 References 5 External linksDescription EditDaphne laureola reaches a height between 0 5 1 5 m 1 6 4 9 ft The habit of this shrub can be upright or decumbent arched at the base then spreading upward The bark is thin and yellow grey when mature while immature stems are green The cambium is malodorous with a scent reminiscent of herb robert citation needed The alternate leaves usually form dense whorls at the shoot tips but may clothe entire branches The leaves are oblanceolate to obovate oblanceolate 2 13 cm long and 1 3 cm wide They are glabrous smooth dark green and glossy on the upper surface and lighter in color beneath The inconspicuous yellow green axial flowers usually hidden among the leaf bases may be strongly fragrant or may exhibit no scent at all 2 Distribution and habitat EditWith Daphne mezereum it is one of two species of Daphne native to Great Britain both of which have a strong preference for alkaline soils and are most commonly found in limestone areas although D laureola is also found on clay 3 However unlike D mezereum D laureola is evergreen with yellowish green flowers borne very early in the spring and black berries which are poisonous to humans but not to birds present from late summer 4 All parts of the plants are poisonous The sap is known to cause skin rashes on contact As an invasive Edit Outside its native range D laureola can become a dangerous invasive weed Growing in sun or shade it is well suited to the temperate forest understory and can rapidly colonize areas both by seeding and by root suckering to form monotypic stands and out compete native vegetation It is a Class B Noxious weed in Washington state 5 Already a weed under native forests in Tasmania Australia 6 7 and New Zealand 8 Mentioned on 5th Dec 1783 called dwarf laurels by Gilbert White who fetched them from the high wood and hanger at Selborne and planted them in his garden 9 Hand pulling is effective against small infestations gloves must be worn to protect against the caustic sap shrubs too large or too small to pull must be dug out 2 Etymology EditDaphne is an ancient Greek name for laurel and is also the name of the dryad Daphne a figure in Greek mythology 10 Laureola means laurel like So in summation the binomial literally translates to laurel like laurel 10 References Edit a b Daphne laureola Germplasm Resources Information Network Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture Retrieved 4 January 2018 a b Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board Daphne laureola Stace Clive 2010 New Flora of the British Isles 3rd ed Cambridge UK Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 0 521 70772 5 pp 381 382 The Reader s Digest Field Guide to the Trees and Shrubs of Britain p 123 Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board Archived from the original on 2008 08 21 Retrieved 2008 09 09 Baker ML January 2013 Daphne laureola L Thymelaeaceae A weedy alien species new to Australia via ResearchGate Daphne Laurel Hobartcity au 2021 Archived from the original on 2021 07 13 Retrieved 13 July 2021 Green Daphne Laurel Weed Busters New Zealand 2021 Archived from the original on 2021 02 02 Retrieved 13 July 2021 The English Year compiled by Geoffrey Grigson O U P 1967 a b Gledhill David 2008 The Names of Plants Cambridge University Press ISBN 9780521866453 hardback ISBN 9780521685535 paperback pp 134 232 Daphne laureola infoExternal links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Daphne laureola nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Daphne laureola Spurge Laurel Aliens Among Us Virtual Exhibit of the Virtual Museum of Canada Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Daphne laureola amp oldid 1106257429, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
