loblolly bay

English

loblolly bay flower
Gordonia lasianthus

Alternative forms

• loblolly-bay

Noun

loblolly bay (plural loblolly bays)

1. An elegant white-flowered evergreen shrub or small tree, Gordonia lasianthus, growing in the maritime parts of the Southern United States. Its bark is sometimes used in tanning.
   • 1770, John Ellis, “A Copy of a Letter from John Ellis, Esq; F. R. S. to Dr. Linnaeus, F. R. S. &c.”, in Philosophical Transactions (1683-1775)‎, volume 60, page 519:

     [T]hat elegant evergreen-tree, called in South Carolina and the Floridas, the Loblolly-bay[.]

2. A similar West Indian tree, Gordonia haematoxylon

Synonyms

• (Gordonia lasianthus): black laurel, holly bay, tan bay, swamp laurel
• (Gordonia haemotoxylon): bloodwood, Laplacea haemotoxylon (no longer used)

References

• Loblolly-bay on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Gordonia on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Gordonia lasianthus on Wikispecies.Wikispecies
• Gordonia (Theaceae) on Wikispecies.Wikispecies
• Gordonia lasianthus on Wikimedia Commons.Wikimedia Commons