Redbay, Persea bordona (L.) Spreng., and swamp redbay, P. palustris (Raf.) Sarg., are in the same family as
sassafras, Sassafras albidum (Nutt.) Nees.Perhaps Redbay,
Alabama, was named after the redbay tree similar to how tupelo, Nyssa L., inspired the name of the city in Mississippi
and a community in Alabama
north of Scottsboro.The specific
epithet of swamp redbay is used frequently where it typically
refers to obligate wetland species that grow in deep water of swamps, although
in the case of longleaf pine, Pinus palustris Mill., this seems to be a misnomer since it better describes loblolly pine, Pinus taeda L., but on the otherhand longleaf pine has deeper roots, which often results in a burnt out stump hole looking like a drilled well. I have seen a species of redbay only
once, and that was when returning from a weekend field trip to Dauphin Island for a dendrology
class.We stopped between Mobile and Tuscaloosa
on either highway 43 or 69 at rest area that I have heard is now closed.We were taking a quiz, but paused to cover
this new species.The next thing on the
quiz was poison sumac, Toxicodendron vernix (L.) Kuntze.After the various answers were turned in the professor began giving the
correct answer with directions that everybody who missed it should immediately
go wash thoroughly with hot soapy water due to so few leaves being left on the
plant.I was the only one that had it
right and one person wanted to change her answer after he said that but before he gave the answer, while everybody else seemed oblivious until the answer was finally reveled, but surprisingly only one of them was
unsuccessful at avoiding the rash. With a names that include bay it is possible that the leaves of redbay were substituted for the bay leaves that come come from the bay laurel, Laurlus nobilis L., although common names may be applied on appearance alone as is the case for mountain-laurel, Kalmia latifolia L., which is highly toxic if consumed.
Avacado, Persea americanaMill., is a tropical or at least sub-tropical fruit that is in this same family. The fruit is the primary ingredient in guacamole and it is recommended as a health food especially for men due to the peculiarity of a fruit having a large amount of fatty acids. It is easy to take a seed, actually a pit, and grow a tree in a pot, although as I recall you will need two for cross pollination. The downside is that they may soon outgrow any pot that can be brought inside during the winter.
