FIELD ID CHARACTERISTICS:
Twigs densely pubescent with fine, reddish hairs. Thick leaves also finely hairy underneath and strongly aromatic when crushed.
Synonym(s): Persea pubescens, Tamala palustris, Tamala pubescens
Description: Medium-sized evergreen tree or shrub with reddish-brown bark and thick, often gall-ridden leaves.
Leaves: Alternate, entire, dark green leaves with prominent midvein above, white undersides, and spreading reddish hairs along veins. Leaves typically have galls on edges.
Flowers/Fruit: Small inconspicuous, white flowers, later form spherical green berries which turn blue-black upon maturity. Blooms May/June; fruits September/October.
Habit and Range: Swamps, pocosins, bay forests, and moist sandy areas, mainly in the Coastal Plain and lower Piedmont. Usually in wet peat soils, but also in drier maritime forests.
COMMON CONFUSIONS:
Persea palustris (swamp bay) has pubescent twigs, whereas the less common Persea borbonia (upland redbay) has smooth twigs, leaves without hairy veins, and is found in drier areas. Magnolia virginiana (sweetbay) has similar leaves which are much whiter beneath and not as strongly aromatic.
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