English: Bay laurel.
French: laurier d’ Apollon.
Dutch: laurier.
Culture: the true laurel of Greek and Roman mythology. A poet laureate is an accomplished poet; Ovidius told the story of the Greek nymph, Daphne, who was transformed into a laurel tree by her father, Peneus, so that she could avoid the amorous pursuit of the god, Apollo, after Cupid had shot an arrow into the fair maiden’s heart so that she would not love Apollo. Thereafter, Apollo wore a wreath of laurel to show his love for Daphne. Laurel has always symbolized victory and merit and a baccalaureate (baca lauri, Latin for “laurel berry”) still is a symbol of accomplishment. The leathery leaves of the laurel tree were used by ancient Greeks and Romans to crown their victors. Bay laurel has been credited with magical properties, like protecting from witches, the devil and lightning.
Content: oil of laurel, 1, 8-cineole and -pinene, sabinene, l-linalool, eugenol, eugenol acetate, methyleugenol, l--terpineol acetate, -phellandrene, other esters, terpenoids, oil catechins.
Use: ornamentals, sheared into distinctive shapes, leaves and branches are used for garlands and wreaths; the essential oil is used by the cosmetic industry in creams, perfumes and soaps.