Prunus laurocerasus Cherry Laurel

A robust evergreen shrub with large glossy, leathery leaves which has been cultivated in Britain for over 400 years. It is commonly seen in parks and amenity plantings and has often been used in hedging and for game cover. It can form large impenetrable thickets as a result of vigorous layering. Fragrant white flowers are produced in errect racemes that eventually produce small cherry-like fruits which are red at first and eventually become black. It is a native of Iran, the Caucasus and the Balkan peninsula and was first recorded in the wild in Britain in 1886. It is now common throughout most of Britain as an established alien. Cherry Laurel contains significant amounts of a cyanogenic glycosides called laurocerasin (or plulaurasin). When the foliage is damaged or crushed, hydrolytic enzymes are released which break down these glycosides and bring about a release of hydrogen cyanide, which is a potent toxin that inhibits mitochondrial respiration. Other phytochemicals of interest in the foliage include phenolic cpmpounds while vanillic acid, caffeic acid and rutin have been extracted from the fruits. The almond-like scent that eminates from the crushed leaves, which is also found with other Prunus species, is due to the breakdown of cyanogenic glycosides in volatile oils. Cherry Laurel is widely naturalised in West Glamorgan, particularly in the lowlands. It has become a significant invasive non-native species (INNS) in many places where large areas of layered thickets have developed.

Neophyte