Common Name: 
Laurel

Two species of broad-leaved evergreen shrub or trees.  Leaves alternate, simple, aromatic when crushed.  Flowers in axillary clusters, unisexual or sometimes bisexual, female flowers with 2-4 staminoides, and male flowers with at least 12 stamens.  Fruit is a black berry.  Native to southern Europe (L. nobilis) and Canary Islands and Azores (L. azorica).
Laurus: the Latin name for these plants.

Pronunciation: 
LA-rus
Family: 
Lauraceae