Laurus nobilis

Laurus nobilis is an aromatic evergreen tree or large shrub with green, glabrous (smooth) leaves. Common names include bay tree (especially in the United Kingdom), bay laurel, sweet bay, true laurel, Grecian laurel, or simply laurel. It is in the flowering plant family Lauraceae. The stem can be 1 metre in diameter and the tree can be as high as 20 metres. Native to the Mediterranean region, Laurus nobilis figures prominently in classical Greco-Roman culture and served various medicinal, religious, and symbolic purposes. Bay leaves are widely used as seasoning in cooking. Worldwide, many other kinds of plants in diverse families are also called "bay" or "laurel", generally due to similarity of foliage or aroma to Laurus nobilis.