Llorer (Catalan) | Loureiro (Galician) | Loureiro, louro (Portuguese) | Laurel (Spanish) | Laurier vrai (French)
The laurel tree is small with a straight trunk, smooth greyish bark, that can reach a height of 10 m and cast a dense shadow. The entire tree contains essential oils that make it aromatic, above all its leaves, that are persistent, simple, alternate, of up to 15 cm in length, oblong-lanceolate with even edges although, at times, they appear uneven and dark green on both sides.
The flowers are yellowish, not very apparent, arranged on distinct parts of the plant.
The fruit is fleshy and black when ripe (drupe), about the size of a pea. Nevertheless, it is a toxic plant and misuse can cause serious intestinal disorders, although, it makes food so bitter that its taste would not go unnoticed. In fact, the tender shoots actually contain a precursor to cyanide.
Laurel trees grow in mild, cool climates as companions to other deciduous tree formations although they do sometimes form groves. They are often associated with places near the sea, ravines and along damp and shady watercourses, in any type of soil. They don´t climb to much height because they are easily affected by frost.
Ereinotz, or laurel, was one of the trees used to protect the farmhouse and its inhabitants.
In Bermeo, on Palm Sunday, women and children would take laurel branches to church. The branches, in which an incision was made and a stick in the form of a cross inserted, would then be blessed. On that day, the newly blessed branches would be hung on the outside of homes (on the balcony, window, doorway…) as well as plots of land, shops, boats etc., leaving them there throughout the year for protection. In Bermeo, it was said that by having a laurel branch and a candle from Candlemas Day in the home, no enemy could cause them harm. During a storm, the blessed candle would be lit and the blessed laurel branch would be taken out while they prayed.
Once the construction of the roof on a house was complete, a laurel branch would be hung at the highest point. In farmhouses, once the works were complete, the branch was substituted by a cross that remained there, permanently in its place.
Laurel was also used for cleaning, together with the household ash for whitening laundry, leaving all the clothes infused with the its fragrance.
Also, for some respiratory ailments, the leaves were burned in order to release the smell throughout the house.
