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  4. Prunus laurocerasus

Prunus laurocerasus

Prunus laurocerasus.<br>Photographer: John Smith-Dodsworth, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Prunus laurocerasus.<br>Photographer: John Smith-Dodsworth, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Taihape. Sep 1998.<br>Photographer: Colin C. Ogle, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Taihape. Sep 1998.<br>Photographer: Colin C. Ogle, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Fruiting tree beside driveway, Bushy Park, Kaiiwi, Whanganui.<br>Photographer: Colin C. Ogle, Date taken: 03/03/2016, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
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Skull and crossbones

Poisonous plant

Common name

cherry laurel

Family

Rosaceae

Authority

Prunus laurocerasus L.

Flora category

Vascular – Exotic

Structural class

Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons

NVS code

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

PRULAU

Habitat

Terrestrial. High rainfall or otherwise saturated soils (C. Ogle, pers. comm.). Found in plantations, around shelterbelts, roadsides, wastelands and in lowland areas (Webb et al., 1988). Relics of cultivation are very common in settled areas especially around old homesteads, domains and parks (Webb et al., 1988). Riverine forest (C. Ogle, pers. comm.). On an alluvial terraca (J. Barkle, pers. comm.).

Features

Evergreen, wide, spreading shrub or tree, to 10 m tall. The leaves are thick, oval to lance-shaped, with a slightly serrated margin, and are 10-15 cm long. Leaves occur alternately, on short, thick stalks, and have glandular depressions and hairs near the base. The upper surface is dark green, smooth and shining with obvious lighter green veins, the underside of the leaf is paler and less shining. Flowers are small (2-5 mm) and white, with five petals. They grow in bunches of 20-30. Flowering is from Aug-Sept. The fruit resembles black cherries, but grows in clusters like grapes. It is bird dispersed. Fruiting is from Nov-Jan.

Similar taxa

Evergreen, widespreading shrub or tree up to 10m high; leaves 90-150mm long x 30-50mm wide; leaves shining above with prominent paler veins, less shining below; flower stalks 100-120mm long with 20-30 flowers; 5 petals, greenish white to cream; fruit about 10mm long, ovoid, dark purple, smooth (Webb et al., 1988).

Flowering

August, September

Flower colours

White

Fruiting

November, December, January

Year naturalised

1958

Origin

SE Europe

Reason For Introduction
Ornamental

Life Cycle Comments
Perennial.

Dispersal
Fruit probably eaten and spread by kereru (C. Ogle, pers. comm.).

Poisonous plant:
The kernels of the black fruit are poisonous if eaten.

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