Laurus L.
Genus comprised of 2 species in North Africa: L. nobilis, distributed across the wetter areas of the extreme North and L. azorica, of which only a small relict population survives in the W central High Atlas.
Amaral Franco, J. 1960. Lauráceas Macaronésicas. Anais Inst. Sup. Agron. (Lisboa) 23: 96.
Arroyo-García, R., Martínez-Zapater, J.M., Fernández Prieto, J.A., & Álvarez-Arbesú R. 2001. AFLP evaluation of genetic similarity among laurel populations. Euphytica 122(1): 155-164.
Barbero, M., Benabid, A., Peyre, C. & Quézel, P. 1981. Sur la presence au Maroc de Laurus azorica (Seub.) Franco. Anales Jardín Botánico de Madrid 37: 467–472.
Benabid, A. 1984. Aperçu biogéographique sur les lauriers du Maroc. Actes du 1er colloque intern. plantes aromatiques et médicinales du Maroc: 87-93. CMCPRST. Rabat.
Rodríguez-Sánchez, F., Guzmán, B., Valido, A., Vargas, P. & Arroyo, J. 2009. Late Neogene history of the laurel tree (Laurus L., Lauraceae) based on phylogeographical analyses of Mediterranean and Macaronesian populations. Journal of Biogeography 36: 1270-1281.
Key to species
1 Branchlets and mature leaves glabrous. Oblong-lanceolate leaves Laurus nobilis
1 Branchlets and young leaves densely hairy; in adults pubescent, at least in the major veins. Leaves suborbicular to lanceolate Laurus azorica
Updated by: G. Benítez, J. Molero Mesa & J. Charco.