VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Malosma laurina | Laurel Sumac 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Black-tailed deer lightly browse laurel sumac seedlings and fruits [14].
Other mammals and birds, including California quail, also eat the fruits
[5,55].


PALATABILITY : 
Laurel sumac browse is rated as useless for all classes of livestock and
wildlife [48].  Even overpopulated feral goat and pig herds on Santa
Catalina Island do notuse it [17,34].


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


COVER VALUE : 
Laurel sumac provides deep shade [48,55], which is presumably used by
animals during hot weather.


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Laurel sumac seedlings were planted on an old field in the Sepulveda
Wildlife Refuge that was being restored to coastal sage scrub.
Seedlings showed greater than 75 percent survival in the first year
[41].  

Brinkman [5] provides laurel sumac seed processing, storage, and
germination information.  Plants may also be started from root cuttings.
Survival of young plants is greater when given microshading and summer
waterings [52].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Attractive evergreen leaves, reddish-brown branches, and relative
freedom from garden pests makes laurel sumac a desirable ornamental
within its range [9,48].  It is also a valued bee food [9,23].

The Chumash made flour from dried laurel sumac fruits.  They used the
root bark to make a tea for treating dysentery [53].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Laurel sumac increases under heavy grazing.  Populations on the Channel
islands have greatly expanded since livestock introduction [34].

The shrubs are not frost-hardy, probably because of active stem growth
during winter [67].  Major cold waves in the winters of 1949 and 1978
resulted in severe laurel sumac die-back.  Poor frost tolerance is
probably why the species is limited to areas south of Point Conception
[35].

Citrus growers use laurel sumac presence as an indicator of frost-free
sites with the potential to support citrus orchards [18].

Related categories for Species: Malosma laurina | Laurel Sumac