California bay
Umbellularia californica
Known as the 'Peppernut' tree, its roasted seeds were once used as a chocolate-like food source by Indigenous Californians.
- Scientific name
- Umbellularia californica
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Laurales › Lauraceae › Umbellularia
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Mixed evergreen forests, oak woodlands, and riparian corridors from sea level to 1,600 meters.
- Diet
- Photosynthetic (autotroph); absorbs minerals and water from soil.
- Range
- California, USA, Oregon, USA, Baja California, Mexico
- Size
- 10-30 meters tall; trunk diameter up to 1.5 meters.
- Lifespan
- 200-300 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Sudden Oak Death (Phytophthora ramorum), urban development, and high-intensity wildfires.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless but pungent. Crushed leaves release umbellulone, which can cause 'laurel headaches,' sneezing, or sinus irritation if inhaled deeply. Safe to observe; do not ingest in large amounts.
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 .
Photo: Mike Heine, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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