Persea borbonia
Encyclopedia
Persea borbonia has a variety of common names, among them are redbay, scrubbay, shorebay and swampbay. It is related to Persea americana or the avocado
tree.
It is an evergreen tree that is native to North America, north of Mexico.
These trees are capable of producing fruit that is a small, blue or black drupe.
Redbay is a perennial, with a non-herbaceous stem that is lignified.
Unfortunately, due to an invasion of redbay ambrosia beetles in the Southern United States the tree is slowly dying out. The beetle was discovered in 2002 near Savannah, Georgia and it carries a fungal disease that is responsible for killing Redbay.. This is bad because Redbay is a relative of the Avocado tree so if this disease is capable of killing off P.borbonia it could probably affect P. americana.
The dried up leaves can used as a condiment but not much else.
It can also be used as an ornamental tree due to its evergreen leaves.
The wood is hard and strong, which can be used to build boats, cabinets and lining interiors of structures. The wood is not traded on a global scale, or at least not a very large scale so it’s confined to the regions where P.borbonia grows.
Deer and some reports of bears also eat the leaves and fruits of redbay. Birds and turkey only eat the fruit of the redbay.
Avocado
The avocado is a tree native to Central Mexico, classified in the flowering plant family Lauraceae along with cinnamon, camphor and bay laurel...
tree.
It is an evergreen tree that is native to North America, north of Mexico.
Description
P.borbonia can be present as either a small tree or a large shrub. It has evergreen leaves that are about 3 to 7 inches long with a lance shape. The leaves are arranged alternately and emit a spicy smell when crushed. . The leaves vary in color from bright green to dark green.These trees are capable of producing fruit that is a small, blue or black drupe.
Redbay is a perennial, with a non-herbaceous stem that is lignified.
Distribution
P.borbonia is in the Southern part of the United States. It grows in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and North and South Carolina. It also grows in the Bahamas and is cultivated in Hawaii. It usually grows on the borders of swamp land.Unfortunately, due to an invasion of redbay ambrosia beetles in the Southern United States the tree is slowly dying out. The beetle was discovered in 2002 near Savannah, Georgia and it carries a fungal disease that is responsible for killing Redbay.. This is bad because Redbay is a relative of the Avocado tree so if this disease is capable of killing off P.borbonia it could probably affect P. americana.
Uses
Not really used in the present day for medicinal uses, but the Seminole Indians used to use it as an emetic, to induce vomiting.The dried up leaves can used as a condiment but not much else.
It can also be used as an ornamental tree due to its evergreen leaves.
The wood is hard and strong, which can be used to build boats, cabinets and lining interiors of structures. The wood is not traded on a global scale, or at least not a very large scale so it’s confined to the regions where P.borbonia grows.
Deer and some reports of bears also eat the leaves and fruits of redbay. Birds and turkey only eat the fruit of the redbay.