Umbellularia
Umbellularia californica is a large hardwood tree native to coastal forests of California, as well as to coastal forests extending into Oregon. It is endemic to the California Floristic Province. It is the sole species in the genus Umbellularia.
What is a Myrtlewood tree?
· The Tree. Oregon Myrtlewood is a broadleaf evergreen native to Southwestern Oregon and Northwestern California. It grows prolifically in this coastal region. The Umpqua River watershed appears to be the northern boundary of its native habitat.
Do Myrtlewood trees grow in Oregon?
Myrtle wood is renowned throughout the Pacific Northwest for its excellent machining and finishing properties as well as its beautiful color, spicy aroma, and figure. Also known as Bay Laurel, California Olive, Pepper wood, or Spice tree, this versatile hardwood grows only in Oregon and Northernmost California.
How long does it take a Myrtlewood tree to grow?
Facebook. Oregon-myrtle ( Umbellularia californica) grows along the Pacific Coast from Douglas County, Oregon, to San Diego, California, in the Coast and Klamath mountains and along the west slope of the Sierra Nevada. The tree is also known as California-laurel, California bay laurel, pepperwood, or some fifteen other common names.
Can you plant Myrtlewood on top of Burl?
Myrtlewood is formally known as Umbellularia californica. It is a large hardwood tree that only grows in the coastal forests of the California and southern Oregon coasts. A cousin of the bay laurel tree, it is known in Oregon as the Oregon Myrtle and in …
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Myrtlewood grows near rivers and in backyards or along highways. In a human lifetime, about 80 years, the trees can grow from 60 to 120 feet. They make good windbreaks or natural dividers of property. It grows very densely with many branches and a very strong root system so that more trees can grow from it.
Is Myrtle Wood rare?
Because this timber is both rare and stunningly beautiful, it is used only rarely in the construction of acoustic guitars. Typically, instruments created using myrtlewood are expensive “one-offs,” built to order.
Is Myrtlewood native to Oregon?
The Oregon Myrtlewood and the California laurel are two of the most common Myrtlewood trees. The former thrives from southwest Oregon to northwest California. The latter grows from southwest Oregon all the way down to San Diego.
What tree is myrtlewood from?
Umbellularia californicaThe Myrtlewood Tree is a very special broadleaf hardwood which is also an evergreen species. This is not to be confused with the Pacific Myrtle shrub which also grows along the coast.
Are myrtlewood nuts edible?
Infusions made with the leaves and hot water were used to wash sores. The nuts were eaten raw or dried, when roasted, the nuts could be eaten or ground into powder and prepared as a drink resembling roast coffee or dark chocolate. Today, similar to bay leaves, the leaves of the Oregon Myrtle are used in cooking.
What is the hardest wood in Oregon?
Hardness is measured on the Janka Scale, and refers to the force need to imbed a steel ball into a piece of wood. Oregon White Oak has a rating of 1660, which puts it at the top of the scale for oaks, and one of the hardest tree species in North America.
Are myrtlewood leaves the same as bay leaves?
Oregon myrtle ), an evergreen tree also known as myrtlewood, bay laurel, California laurel and California bay, is sometimes substituted for sweet bay in cooking –- but it's far stronger in flavor, so beware of ruining a dish.
Is Myrtlewood a hardwood?
Myrtlewood is a hardwood that is sourced from the coast of California and Oregon. It's not as abundant as other domestics because it has a much smaller growing habitat. However, it is still readily available from many flooring specialists. Myrtlewood is known for having a very understated grain that is fairly wavy.
What does myrtlewood smell like?
Whereas the Bay Myrtle is a tree commonly known to produce a savory herb common to Italian cuisine, Oregon Myrtlewood is a distinctly sweet smelling variety. No person visiting could possibly miss the sweet smelling fragrance of the tree. Many evoke images of intangibly spicy snickerdoodles.
How do I care for Myrtlewood?
We hope you enjoy your beautiful Myrtlewood products. To take care of oil finished kitchen items, wash in warm soapy water and dry with cloth. Do not allow item to stand in water -- no dishwasher or microwave. Occasionally rub mineral oil into the wood to keep it from drying out and to restore its luster.
Does bay laurel grow in Oregon?
Description California Bay Laurel is best known as a native tree which grows along the Pacific Ocean from southwest Oregon, south along the Coast Range, and into the Sierra Nevada mountains. In southwest Oregon it is called Oregon Myrtle and is prized for its hard wood used for wood working.
Are bay trees native to California?
Bay Laurel is an evergreen tree in the Lauraceae family that is native to coastal forests of California at elevations from 0-5000 feet.
Can you eat California Bay?
On the spice shelves in supermarkets you can find jars marked "California Bay Leaves" and buy them for use in cooking. Or you can pick them for free on your next hike. Bay leaves. We cook with them so often, adding their spicy aroma to stews, soups, pot roasts, and tomato sauces.
Where does the myrtle tree grow?
The myrtle grows wild in the north of Israel – the Carmel, the Galilee and the Golan Heights.
Where does Oregon Myrtlewood grow?
The Tree. Oregon Myrtlewood is a broadleaf evergreen native to Southwestern Oregon and Northwestern California. It grows prolifically in this coastal region . The Umpqua River watershed appears to be the northern boundary of its native habitat.
Where do bay laurel trees grow?
Depending on habitat conditions, California bay laurels can grow as small shrubs or large trees. As their name implies, California bay laurels are native to California, specifically along the coast and in lower elevations of the Sierra Nevada.
Can myrtlewood be pruned?
It is often multi trunk but can be kept pruned to a single trunk tree. When growing in the open it tends to have a dense, rounded , 'gumdrop shape'. The Myrtlewood has clusters of small yellow flowers (or umbels) which bloom in late winter and olive like seeds or nuts which usually fall from the trees in the fall.
Where does myrtlewood grow?
Lang. Email. PDF. Twitter. Facebook. Oregon-myrtle ( Umbellularia californica) grows along the Pacific Coast from Douglas County, Oregon, to San Diego, California, in the Coast and Klamath mountains and along the west slope of the Sierra Nevada. The tree is also known as California-laurel, California bay laurel, pepperwood, ...
What is Oregon Myrtle used for?
Other uses include gunstocks, trim, cabinetry, paneling, and veneer. Oregon-myrtle and its wood products provide a small, but significant source of income for small mills and crafters in southwest Oregon and California.
Where does Umbellularia californica grow?
Umbellularia californica grows only on the west coast of the United States. Oregon-myrtle grows under various topographic and soil conditions if moisture conditions are adequate. The Oregon Champion tree, 4.7 feet in diameter and 88 feet tall, is near Lobster Creek, Curry County, Oregon.
Is Oregon Myrtle a good plant?
In the right setting and climate, Oregon-myrtle, with its handsome willow-like evergreen leaves, clusters of yellow flowers, and relatively large yellow-green fruits, makes a fine ornamental planting. The odor of the aromatic plant is pungent enough to cause sneezing and headaches when leaves are crushed and sniffed.
What are the leaves of Oregon Myrtle used for?
Today, similar to bay leaves, the leaves of the Oregon Myrtle are used in cooking. The flavor is much stronger than the typical bay leaf, so leaves should be used sparingly. People still roast the nuts for eating or grinding into a powder for beverages.
What is the name of the tree that grows in the California coast?
Myrtlewood is formally known as Umbellularia californica. It is a large hardwood tree that only grows in the coastal forests of the California and southern Oregon coasts. A cousin of the bay laurel tree, it is known in Oregon as the Oregon Myrtle and in California as the California Bay Laurel. Other common names are Pepperwood, Mountain Laurel, and Balm of Heaven.
What is the name of the California Bay Laurel tree?
A cousin of the bay laurel tree, it is known in Oregon as the Oregon Myrtle and in California as the California Bay Laurel. Other common names are Pepperwood, Mountain Laurel, and Balm of Heaven. People throughout history have found a number of uses for this broadleaf evergreen.
Where were oak trees found?
During the Miocene, oak-laurel forests were found in Central and Southern California. Typical tree species included oaks ancestral to present-day California oaks, and an assemblage of trees from the laurel family, including Nectandra, Ocotea, Persea, and Umbellularia. Only one native species from the laurel family, Umbellularia californica, ...
Where is Umbellularia native to?
Umbellularia californica is a large hardwood tree native to coastal forests and the Sierra foothills of California, as well as to coastal forests extending into Oregon. It is endemic to the California Floristic Province. It is the sole species in the genus Umbellularia . The tree was formerly known as Oreodaphne californica.
Where is the Oregon sage found?
In the north, it reaches its distributional limit through southwest Oregon to (infrequently) Newport, Lincoln County, Oregon, on the coast , extending from there south through California to San Diego County. It is also found in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Where is the Santa Clara tree?
Habitat. This tree, on Permanente Cre ek in Rancho San Antonio County Park, Santa Clara County, California, is one of the largest of its species in the state. Since this photograph, the tree was split, and half the tree broke off and fell in a storm.
What is the color of bay laurel?
The dry wood has a color range from blonde (like maple) to brown (like walnut). It is considered an excellent tonewood and is sought after by luthiers and woodworkers.
What is the Native American tree used for woodworking?
Some modern-day foragers and wild food enthusiasts have adopted Native American practices regarding the edible roasted fruit, the bay nut. Umbellularia californica is also used in woodworking. It is considered a tonewood, used to construct the backs and sides of acoustic guitars.
What is the difference between Mediterranean bay leaf and umbellularia leaf?
The leaf can be used in cooking, but is spicier and "headier" than the Mediterranean bay leaf, and should be used in smaller quantity. Umbellularia leaf imparts a somewhat stronger camphor / cinnamon flavor compared to the Mediterranean bay.
Where does myrtlewood grow?
The former thrives from southwest Oregon to northwest California. The latter grows from southwest Oregon all the way down to San Diego. Residents of both states are known to be territorial (meaning proud) of “their” Myrtlewood, which is why the wood innovation center of Oregon State University may have struck the right compromise by calling the tree the “Pacific myrtle.”
What color is a Myrtlewood tree?
It might be a cliché to say that no two pieces of wood from a Myrtlewood tree are alike, but you'll struggle for another way to explain how one type of tree can produce colors that range from honey brown to dark brown and even gray and black. (Actually, it's assumed that the mineral-rich soil on the West Coast is a big reason why the trees produce such a rich array of colors.)
What makes a Myrtlewood tree stand out?
Many people would say that it's not the leaves, flowers or even the drupes that make the Myrtlewood tree stand out — it's the strong aroma of the leaves. Similar to the smell of a bay leaf, Myrtlewood leaves may produce watery eyes in one person and a sneeze in another, but they're nearly impossible to miss if your nasal passages are clear.
Can a myrtlewood tree grow multiple trunks?
Meanwhile, down below, a Myrtlewood can busily grow multiple trunks. Dedicated gardeners tend to have strong opinions about the look, either loving it or hating it. If you're in the latter camp, the tree can be easily pruned to a single trunk when it's young.
How long does it take for a myrtlewood tree to grow?
At this rate, it's no wonder that a “typical” Myrtlewood can take 100 years to reach its full height. That can equal 100 feet, though a more typical range is between 40 and 80 feet tall.
What is the bark color of myrtlewood?
Walk around the tree and look for a spreading shrubby tree with multiple trunks. The bark is greenish to reddish brown. Inspect the leaves; myrtlewood produces glossy leaves that are narrow and pointed and remain on the tree all year long.
Can you identify a Myrtlewood tree?
If the trip must stay on your bucket list for now, you can still learn how to identify a Myrtlewood tree. Its defining characteristics make identifying it as straightforward as it is fun — all while giving the term “distance learning” a whole new meaning.
Scientific Classification
Kingdom-Plantae Genus-Umbellularia Family-Lauraceae Order-Laurales Species- U. Califomica
Anatomy
The leaves of Oregon myrtle tree are fragrant. They have smooth edges and are lance shaped. The leaves are aromatic, smooth and shiny. These are “bay” leaves. These leaves are 3 to 10 cm long and 1.5 to 3 cm broad. The flowers are small in size and yellow or yellowish green in color. These flowers are produced in small umbels.
Habitat
Oregon myrtle tree is found in the yellow pine forests, redwood forests, California and in California mixed woods. In the forests, it grows tall and straight. It is also found in the southern and central California and in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It also occurs on the pacific coast of North America.
Soil
Oregon myrtle tree can grow in many soil conditions. Well drained, fertile and moist soil is good for them. It can also grow on a wide variety of soils derived from sedimentary, alluvial and metamorphic material. It grows well on well-watered and deep soil, on coastal places, valley bottoms and on alluvial benches.
Uses
The Oregon myrtle tree has many uses. The leaves are used in the treatment of toothache, headache and earache. The leaves are used in the making of tea and this tea is used in the treatment of stomachache, clearing up mucus in the lungs, for sore throat and cold.
Care
Seeds of Oregon myrtle tree can be stored under moist and cool conditions. They should be planted immediately. Germination takes place in 3 months. A good, caring sunlight is ideal for them. Regular watering keeps it healthy. Establishment of tree from seed is good when the seed is fully covered by the soil.
Planting
The best conditions for growing of Oregon myrtle tree are lower slopes, protected bottomlands and moist and deep soil. These conditions are ideal for large trees. Dry and hot localities are also suitable. Its root system spreads wide depending on the drainage and the soil.
