Lauraceae

Lauraceae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Laurales Family: Lauraceae
Genera
Actinodaphne Adenodaphne Aiouea Alseodaphne Anaueria Aniba Apollonias Aspidostemon Beilschmiedia Brassiodendron Caryodaphnopsis Chlorocardium Cinnadenia Cinnamomum Clinostemon Cryptocarya Dehaasia Dicypellium Dodecadenia Endiandra Endlicheria Eusideroxylon Gamanthera Hexapora Hypodaphnis Iteadaphne Kubitzkia Laurus Licaria Lindera Litsea Mezilaurus Nectandra Neocinnamomum Neolitsea Nothaphoebe Ocotea Paraia Persea Phoebe Phyllostemonodaphne Pleurothyrium Potameia Potoxylon Povedadaphne Ravensara Rhodostemonodaphne Sassafras Syndiclis Triadodaphne Umbellularia Urbanodendron Williamodendron

The Lauraceae or Laurel family comprises a group of flowering plants included in the Order Laurales. The Family contains some 40 genera and over 2000 (perhaps as many as 4000) species world-wide, mostly from warm or tropical regions, especially Southeast Asia and Brasil. Most are aromatic evergreen trees or shrubs. However, Cassytha is a genus of parasitic vines.

Among the best known genera are the following, having species used in commerce:

• Cinnamomum: Cinnamon and camphor
• Laurus: Laurel
• Lindera: Spice bush
• Persea: Avocado
• Sassafras: Sassafras

References

• Delta 2003-11-17
• Mabberley, D.J. 1987. The Plant Book. A portable dictionary of the higher plants. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 706 p. ISBN 0 521 34060 8.
• Wagner, W. L., D. R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai'i. Spec. Publ. 83. University of Hawaii Press and Bishop Museum Press. Bishop Museum. 1854 pp.