Laurus (genus)

Genus containing 3 species of evergreen trees. Fossils dating to before the Pleistocene glaciations suggest that species of Laurus were formerly distributed more widely around the Mediterranean and North Africa, when the climate was more humid and mild than at present. It is currently thought that the drying of the Mediterranean basin during the glaciations caused Laurus to retreat to the mildest climate refuges, including southern Spain, Portugal and the Macaronesian islands.