| Prunus lusitanica | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Foliage and immature fruit | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| Genus: | Prunus |
| Subgenus: | Prunussubg. Padus |
| Species: | P. lusitanica |
| Binomial name | |
| Prunus lusitanica | |
 | |
| Distribution map | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
| |
Prunus lusitanica, thePortuguese laurel cherry[4] orPortugal laurel,[5] is aspecies offlowering plant in the rosefamily Rosaceae,native to theIberian Peninsula,Morocco, theMacaronesian archipelagos, and theFrench Basque Country.[6][7][8]
The split between the subspecies (subsp.azorica,hixa, andlusitanica) is dated around thePliocene.[9]
Prunus lusitanica is anevergreenshrub or smalltree growing to 3-8m tall (though it can reach 15-20m in cultivation).[10][11][12][13] Thebark is smooth and dark-grey.[10] Theleaves are alternate, oval, 7–15 cm long and 3–5 cm broad,[10] with an acute apex and a dentate margin, glossy dark green above, lighter below.[12] They superficially resemble those of thebay laurel, which accounts for its often being mistaken for one.
Theflowers are small (10–15 mm diameter) with five small white petals; they are produced on erect or spreadingracemes 15–25 cm long in late spring. Thefruit is a small cherry-likedrupe 8–13 mm in diameter, green or reddish green at first, turning dark purple or black when ripe in late summer or early autumn.[10][14]
It occurs in the westernMediterranean Basin, France, Spain, and Portugal, andMacaronesia, Azores, Canary Islands and Madeira.
Prunus lusitanica is rare in the wild, found mainly along mountain streams, preferring sunshine and moist but well-drained soils. It is moderately drought-tolerant. It reproduces either sexually (the most successful method) or asexually by cloning from shoots.[15]
The species was first scientifically described by Linnaeus inSpecies Plantarum in 1753. Itsspecific epithetlusitanica means "of Lusitania", referring to the Roman name for Portugal.[16]
Threesubspecies are accepted:[3]
Prunus lusitanica is grown as anornamental shrub and is widely planted as ahedge and for screening in gardens and parks. It is introduced and locallynaturalised in thetemperate zone in northern France, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, Western Canada- including the southern BC Mainland and Vancouver Island From Victoria Up Island through the Cowichan, Nanaimo and Parksville as well as the western United States in California, Oregon and Washington State.[citation needed]
Similar to its relativePrunus laurocerasus,P. lusitanica has been recognized by some botanists and land managers in both western Washington and Oregon as invasive. It is thought to have spread from cultivated areas into natural areas by birds who consume the fruit and then defecate the seeds away from the source plant.[citation needed]
It has gained theRoyal Horticultural Society'sAward of Garden Merit.[18]
The leaves ofPrunus lusitanica containcyanide and will release this into the environment if burnt[19] or if crushed.[20] The fruit is somewhat edible if fully ripe, but if it is bitter, it is toxic and should not be eaten.[21]
