Prunus laurocerasus English laurel

Prunus laurocerasus flowers in the Inner Quad. Sairus Patel, 21 Mar 2017

Prunus laurocerasus leaves and fruit. John Rawlings, ca. 2005

Numerous specimens planted around 1900 grow in the Inner Quad as small, spreading trees with furrowed mid-gray bark. The leaves are glossy and leathery, slightly toothed and up to 6 inches long. Prunus laurocerasus came to Europe from Turkey in the 16th century, reached England in the 17th, and California in the 19th. Understandably, it is not called English laurel in England but rather common laurel or cherry laurel. The white flower spikes stand up conspicuously in spring; March is the time to notice that all the islands, except the two nearest to Memorial Court, are distinguished by at least one laurel. Later, the small blackish-blue conical berries conspicuously litter the Quad and attract birds.

Laurel leaves contain amygdalin, a compound of prussic acid (HCN) and glucose, which is also found in bitter almond kernels (see P. armeniaca) and, to a high degree, in cassava. The last English alchemist, Dr. James Price (1752–1783), demonstrated a catalyst for transmuting mercury into verifiable silver and gold, but a year later, under pressure to make more precious metal, he prepared a lethal potion by macerating laurel leaves and drank the fatal cup. Do not confuse this poisonous tree with the California laurel (Umbellularia californica), leaf fragments of which can be used in cooking.

A shrub or groundcover form P. laurocerasus ‘Zabeliana’ has been occasionally planted. It has narrower and shorter leaves than the species. It can be seen in the Math Courtyard, the north side of Braun Music, and elsewhere.

Name derivation: Prunus – Latin name for the plum tree; laurocerasus – the common name, cherry laurel.

Related material: Stanford Grounds Plant Information Sheet. List No. 14, p.2.