5 Graines Laurier-cerise, laurier-palme, Prunus laurocerasus

Laurier-cerise, Laurier-Amande, Laurier-Palme, Prunus Laurocerasus |

The Laurier-Cerise (Prunus Laurocerasus), sometimes called Laurier de Trébizonde, Laurier-Amande or Laurier -palme, is a kind of plants in family of Rosaceae. It is a shrub frequently planted in hedges, appreciating gentle climates (Mediterranean and Atlantic ribs in particular). This species is considered invasive in Western Europe and in North America1.

5 seeds - cold stratification 2/3 months before sowing then let the seeds soak in hot water 24 hours

The Laurier-Cerise is a shrill with evergreen, up to 8 M high if it is planted alone, with a compact port then Arborescent7. Its branching trunk, with a smooth and blackish bark, carries many grayish branches. The simple alternate leaves and petiolated are tough, with brilliant and gloomy, elliptical with lanceolate, from 100 to 200 MM length7. The blade is whole or irregularly toothed, and weakly rolled up in a spiral7. The lower side of the leaves includes 2 to 6 Nectaires Extra-Floral8, Glands Nectarifers typical of Myrmecophytes (plants attracting ants which participate in their defense against herbivores and which are observed in the majority of other species of the genus Prunus9.

His Inflorescences are erect clusters pushing the axils of the leaves. They are composed of small white flowers Actinomorphs and Pentamères. They are made up of a hollow, flared floral receptacle ; a chalice made up of five triangular sepales ; A corolla with 5 nanged, free petals, which surround 20 stamens arranged out of 4 Verticilles. The pistil is made up of an OVARY OVARY OVARY, with a closed median carpelle. The fruit is a Drupe unilocular, fleshy10.

The fruit is a small Drupe, black at maturity, containing a seed. Dissemination is mainly done by Endozooochoria : The fruits are used occasionally by the Merles and the starlings. The entire plant is toxic to humans, with the exception of the fruit pulp reached mature, which has become black (the seed is toxic).

The flesh of the fruit is not toxic or, according to some authors, very weakly toxic when consumed when it has not reached its complete maturity11. The seed contained in the Core is very toxic because it contains Cyanogenetic heterosides (Pulaurasine and amygdaline, compounds which hydrolysing give birth to glucose, aldehyde benzoic volatile - with the smell of bitter almond - and of the odorless but extremely toxic) acid. However, there is little case of poisoning because the nucleus being very hard, this seed is rarely crunched12. Well that sometimes used to flavor pastries, the leaves are toxic because of their content in Heterosides cyanogenetics. They are used to prepare thedistilled water from Laurier Cerise Folish (antispasmodic and calming virtues)13.

The laurel-cerise is mainly used as ornamental plant or to constitute hedges Tufts.

The leaves are used to flavor dishes but should be used with caution and in small quantities, due to the risk of poisoning.14

Only ripen fruits, obtained from elderly and prolific trees, are not toxic. They are even sold on the local markets to be mainly consumed fresh. They are also used for the industrial manufacturing of Jams (dark red, unique but pleasant taste15,16), pickles and cakes. Their market value is such that industrialists ask for the development of Cultivars for better resistance to diseases and for their environmental adaptability17.

The fresh leaves picked in the young state (that is to say having appeared in the year) or the distilled water of the same leaves have therapeutic properties (antispasmodic, sedative, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, healing, sternary ) and therapeutic uses (disorders of the respiratory and gastrointestinal sphere, skin conditions)18.

Contents subject to the CC-BY-SA license 3.0. Source : Article Laurier-Cerise by Wikipedia in French (Authors)