Talk:Laurus nobilis

Greek/Roman mythology
There should be a full section for the use of noble laurel in mythology and be less confusing as to what is roman and what is greek. HitmanPotato (talk) 18:18, 16 January 2018 (UTC)

Untitled
This could have just as easily been titled Sweet bay, as far as Google hits are concerned. True laurel has an order of magnitude fewer hits. The terms "bay" and "laurel" have been applied to so many different plants that the whole situation is a mess. WormRunner 02:40, 13 Jan 2004 (UTC)
 * That name also refers to Magnolia virginiana which makes things more of a mess. Kortoso (talk) 16:40, 20 March 2017 (UTC)

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Poisonous
This article mentions that the bay leaves are considered poisonous when they really aren't. :/ 70.78.192.89 (talk) 05:16, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

Also theres the California Laurel
The Californnia Laurel(Umballeria Californica) A native small tree of California/ Stronger sceneted!(DatedformyfilesbyDr.Edson Andre' Johnson D.D.ULC,PMEve. 8/21/09/21st cent."X")Thanks!SoCalKid (talk) 03:29, 22 August 2009 (UTC)
 * Yes, there seems to be a link now. Kortoso (talk) 16:38, 20 March 2017 (UTC)

Chinese folklore - not the same tree ...
The great tree on the moon in Chinese folklore is not bay laurel (Chinese: 月桂) but Osmanthus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osmanthus_fragrans, Chinese: 桂花). Vincivinci (talk) 06:13, 5 November 2012 (UTC)
 * Before moving that, can you comment on the "literally translates to "moon-laurel""? Perhaps that comment should just be removed. It would be good to have a citation for this material. Sminthopsis84 (talk) 13:17, 5 November 2012 (UTC)
 * It does literally translate to moon laurel (well, gui, which includes several relatives such as the Chinese cinnamon) and it's all a bit of a mess, given that the widespread extirpation of traditional culture on the mainland actually leads many Chinese people into thinking the original 桂 on the moon was a 月桂.


 * That said, obviously, the Chinese traditions weren't built on a Mediterranean native. Instead, the similarity of the associations caused them to name the western plant after their stories. (There's also an entirely separate mess based on the fact that translators have erred (or preferred) to associate the osmanthus traditions with the more commercially-known cassia.) I've outlined most of that and think we should keep an explanation for people who come here confused from other places. If we need more cites here, they can be found on the Osmanthus fragrans and Wu Gang page. — Llywelyn II   12:31, 13 November 2013 (UTC)


 * This is VERY tangential to discussion of the plant in question, especially considering the lengthy nature of the entry. I suggest abbreviating it and supplying a link to the actual Chinese plant. Kortoso (talk) 16:34, 20 March 2017 (UTC)

Does bay mean berry?
Does the bay in bay laurel mean berry? And, if so, shouldn't the article mention this (or whatever bay means?)

Under the Symbolism section of the page is the statement:
 * The symbolism carried over to Roman culture, which held the laurel as a symbol of victory. It is also the source of the words baccalaureate and poet laureate, as well as the expressions "assume the laurel" and "resting on one's laurels".

with baccalaureate wikilinked to bachelor's degree where there is the following:
 * During the Renaissance, those who received a doctorate, upon passing their final examinations, were decorated with berried branches of bay, an ancient symbol of highest honor. From this ancient custom derives the French word baccalauréat (from the Latin bacca, a berry, and laureus, of the bay laurel), and, by modification, the term "bachelor" in referring to one who holds a university degree.

WikiParker (talk) 12:10, 12 March 2013 (UTC)
 * Wiktionary answers the first question.
 * I'm confused by the doctorate/bachelor difference. Sminthopsis84 (talk) 13:40, 12 March 2013 (UTC)


 * I think you are looking for etymology.
 * http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=laurel
 * http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=bay&allowed_in_frame=0
 * "laurel shrub (Laurus nobilis, source of the bay leaf), late 14c., originally only of the berry, from Old French baie (12c.) "berry, seed," from Latin baca "berry." Extension to the shrub itself is from 1520s. The leaves or sprigs were woven as wreaths for conquerors or poets. Bayberry first recorded 1570s, after the original sense had shifted."
 * Kortoso (talk) 16:37, 20 March 2017 (UTC)

Uncited assertions removed
I've just removed this:

''In the Bible, the laurel is often an emblem of prosperity and fame. In Christian tradition, it symbolizes the resurrection of Christ.

In Italy, graduating college students wear crowns of laurel instead of the normal graduation hat.

It can be restored if reliably sourced. I found that students at the SAIS Center at the U. of Bologna started wearing laurel leaves in 2004, but I couldn't find it's a standard practice across Italy or even in Bologna. YoPienso (talk) 01:09, 13 October 2016 (UTC)


 * The California Bay Laurel is proven to be a bug repellent; I wonder if that's the origin of its usage. ;) Kortoso (talk) 16:41, 20 March 2017 (UTC)

Comment
The section on the eat Asia mythology seems to hold little relevance to Laurus nobilis. There should be information about the flowering and reproduction of Laurus nobilis  Kingjohnthefirst1 (talk) 03:35, 22 October 2016 (UTC)


 * The section seems entirely appropriate. By all means add more detail about flowering and reproduction if you have reliable sources, though the basics are already described. Chiswick Chap (talk) 08:36, 22 October 2016 (UTC)

"The plant is the source of several popular herbs"?
"The plant is the source of several popular herbs" - is this supported by the source (Vaughan)? Can somebody check? It doesn't pass the smell test. Kortoso (talk) 16:27, 20 March 2017 (UTC)

Insect repellent?
The L. nobilis is known to repel and kill insect pests.
 * Kortoso (talk) 16:22, 1 June 2017 (UTC)