Laurels usually have a simple alternate leaves, entire margins, a strong midvein, fine areolate venation and a scent when crushed. Below I have discussed 5 local native laurels and some native visitors that are common to see around Sydney. More will be added over time.
Cryptocarya glaucescens (Jackwood)
Cryptocarya glaucescens can be identified by its rounded groove midvein, glaucous undersides and dark reddy bark. It is a common canopy tree along creeks in rainforest on richer soils.
Typical leaves of Cryptocarya glaucescens
Glaucous undersides of Cryptocarya glaucescens
Cryptocarya microneura (Murrogun)
Cryptocarya microneura can be identified by its raised midvein, fine reticulation on the upper surface, lateral veins curving along the leaf and blunt acuminate tip. It is found in and on the edge of rainforests on richer soils.
Leaves of Cryptocarya microneura
Undersides of Cryptocarya microneura
Endiandra sieberi (Hard Corkwood)
Endiandra sieberi can be easily identified by its corky bark, distinctly raised midvein above and flattish midvein on the undersides. It is typically found in rainforest and gullies near the coast.
Leaves of Endiandra sieberi
Undersides of Endiandra sieberi with flatish midvein
Litsea reticulata (Bolly Gum)
Litsea reticulata can be identified by its reticulated undersides, thicker staighter branchlets, flatish midvein above and lateral veins that loop in a regular pattern well inside the margin. It is typically found on richer soils.
Leaves of Litsea reticulata
Reticulated undersides of Litsea reticulata
Neolitsea dealbata (Hairy Bolly Gum)
Neolitsea dealbata can be identified by its white undersides, pseudowhorled leaves and hairy newgrowth. It can be mistaken for a camphor laurel as a seedling, but is easily distinguished by the leaf arrangement and hairs.
Pseudowhorled leaves of Neolitsea dealbata
Leaves of young Neolitsea dealbata
Cryptocarya triplinervis (Three-veined Laurel)
Cryptocarya triplinervis seems to have been introduced into Sydney from up north quite early on and it is not unusual to see as a forest tree, especially around Manly and the Harbour.
It comes in two varieties. One nearly glabrous with just hairs along the underside midvein and sometimes domatia, and the other hairy and without domatia which is a bit less common.
The more glabrous variety Cryptocarya triplinervis var. triplinervis
The hairy variety Cryptocarya triplinervis var. pubens