Introductory
SPECIES: Persea borbonia | Redbay 



ABBREVIATION : 
PERBOR

SYNONYMS : 
   Tamala borbonia (L.) Raf.
   Tamala pubescens (Pursh) Small


SCS PLANT CODE : 
   PEBO
   PEBOH
   PEBOP


COMMON NAMES : 
   redbay
   silkbay
   shorebay
   scrub-bay
   swampbay


TAXONOMY : 
The currently accepted scientific name for redbay is Persea borbonia
(L.) Spreng. (Lauraceae).  Morphological variety complicates redbay
taxonomy.  Three varieties, also regarded as separate species, are
distinguished based on habitat differences and the morphology of the
hair on the undersides of the leaves:

P. b. var. borbonia - typical variety

P. b. var. humilis (Nash) Kopp [P. humulis Nash] - commonly known as
silkbay; distinguished from the typical variety by especially dense hair
[12]; restricted to the oak (Quercus spp.)-pine (Pinus spp.) scrub of
peninsular Florida [4].

P. b. var. pubescens (Pursh) Little [P. palustris (Raf.) Sarg.] - commonly
known as swampbay; distinguished from the type by crooked hair [13] and
an affinity for swampy areas [12,20].

This review follows Little [29] and Kartesz and Kartesz [22] who favor
three varieties.  There are no recognized subspecies or forms.


LIFE FORM : 
Tree

FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS : 
No special status

OTHER STATUS : 
NO-ENTRY


COMPILED BY AND DATE : 
Timothy R. Van Deelen, August 1991.


LAST REVISED BY AND DATE : 
NO-ENTRY


AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION : 
Van Deelen, Timothy R. 1991. Persea borbonia. In: Remainder of Citation

Related categories for Species: Persea borbonia | Redbay