California Bay

At a glance

Origin / distribution: US, US(Amerindian), US(Colonial), FR, MX

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Ache(Head), Repellant(Insect), Steam-Bath, Rheumatism

Science studied: BETA-BISABOLENE, CITRONELLOL, P-CYMENE, 3,4-DIMETHOXY-ALLYL-BENZENE

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Lauraceae

Scientific name: Umbellularia californica

Common names: California Bay, Amerikai babér, Balm of Heaven, Bay Laurel, Berglorbeer, Brdski lovor, California bay, California bay laurel, California bay tree, California laurel, California-laurel, California-nutmeg, California-olive, Californialaurbær

POWO: 30189264-2 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in US, US(Amerindian), US(Colonial), FR, MX.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Ache(Head)
• Repellant(Insect)
• Steam-Bath
• Rheumatism
• Stomach

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• US
• US(Amerindian)
• US(Colonial)
• FR
• MX

Documented cultural uses

• Ache(Head)
• Repellant(Insect)
• Steam-Bath
• Rheumatism
• Stomach

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Ache(Head) · US · "
• Repellant(Insect) · US(Amerindian) · "
• Steam-Bath · US · "
• Ache(Head) · US(Colonial) · "
• Rheumatism · US · "
• Stomach · US · "

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Species-specific responses drive browsing impacts on physiological and functional traits in Quercus agrifolia and Umbellularia californica. · 2024 source ↗
• Species-Specific Responses Drive Browsing Impacts on Physiological and Functional Traits in <i>Quercus agrifolia</i> and <i>Umbellularia californica</i> · 2023 source ↗
• Distinct Trophic Specializations Affect How Phytophthora ramorum and Clade 6 Phytophthora spp. Colonize and Persist on Umbellularia californica Leaves in Streams. · 2018 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• BETA-BISABOLENE
• CITRONELLOL
• P-CYMENE
• 3,4-DIMETHOXY-ALLYL-BENZENE
• EO
• ETHYL-BENZOATE
• EUGENOL
• TRANS-BETA-FARNESENE
• FORMIC-ACID
• GUAIA-6,9-DIENE
• ALPHA-HUMULENE
• LINALOL
• METHYL-EUGENOL
• MYRCENE
• BETA-PHELLANDRENE
• BETA-PINENE

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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