Leaves oblong-lanceolate (lanceolate, or much longer than wide, but with parallel margins in the middle of the leaf), with a petiole ~1-4 cm long and a short tip. Leaves are ~3-10 cm long, ~ 2-4 cm wide. Distinctively folded lengthwise along its central axis, making the upper surface concave lengthwise (like a taco). The leaf is glabrous (smooth-surfaced), somewhat sclerophyllous (leathery), medium olive green in color with reddish veins that are pinnately arranged (branching off the central vein). The twigs and petioles also tend to be reddish. Flowers are tiny (~ 1 mm long), white, and borne on dense terminal inflorescences with compound branching, or panicles, also with short reddish stems (pedicels). The plant is aromatic (kind of like bay leaves), the flowers even more so, giving a spicy smell to the area around it. Blooms in June and July. The fruit is a tiny (~2-3 mm across) white glabrous drupe (a fleshy fruit surrounding a stone, like a peach). The plant is a tall shrub, usually about 2-5 m tall, rounded in shape, sometimes looking like a small tree. It has recently been reclassified out of the Rhus or sumac genus and is now, like humans and toyons, the single representative of its (new) genus. Found under 1000 m in the Transverse and Peninsular ranges of Southern California and into Baja, in chaparral and California sage scrub.
Malosma laurina aka Rhus laurina (Anacardiaceae): laurel sumac
The development of this key was partially funded through the Geoscience Diversity Enhancement Program (Award #0703798) and through a course of re-assigned time provided by the CSULB Scholarly and Creative Activities Committee. Thanks also to the students in sections of biogeography, introductory physical geography, GDEP, and LSAMP for "test-driving" various editions of this key.