Laurel: a legendary plant with a thousand virtues

The Laden laurel (Laurus nobilis) belongs to the Lauraceae family and is known for its aromatic leaves used in various applications. If left to grow without pruning, this tree can reach a height of 10 metres, with a dense crown of slender branches. If pruned frequently, the plant appears as a small shrub. The laurel not only contributes to improving air quality, but also provides shelter and food for various species of birds and insects, playing a key role in the ecosystems in which it is found.

The reproduction of laurel in nature is done by birds: they carry the seeds by feeding on the fruit. Flowering occurs in spring, between March and April, with small yellow flowers that attract a variety of pollinating insects. These flowers turn into fruits that ripen in autumn, usually in October, and take the form of bluish berries containing a single seed. Each berry, only a few centimetres large, is rich in nutrients that promote the growth of the seed. This ability to spread easily, combined with the plant's hardiness, makes laurel adaptable and easy to grow in different climatic and environmental conditions.

The leaves of the laurel are easily recognisable by their oval shape, dark green colour and glossy texture on the upper page, matt on the underside. Their characteristic scent makes them unmistakable. Particularly curious is the traditional use of the leaves for hair care: boiled in water and filtered, they were mixed with soap to obtain smoother, shinier hair. A use that demonstrates the appreciation of laurel since ancient times, also for its aesthetic properties.

The laurel has a history rich in symbolic meanings, especially in Greco-Roman mythology. Considered sacred to Apollo, god of wisdom and the arts, the laurel symbolised glory and knowledge. Laurel wreaths were placed on the heads of the winners of the Olympic Games as a symbol of victory and honour. Moreover, poets crowned with laurel became 'poets laureate', a title that represented the highest recognition of their abilities and contribution to literature. This symbolism has perpetuated the laurel's importance throughout the centuries, making it an emblem of achievement and distinction. Even today, the laurel is often associated with graduation ceremonies and academic awards, keeping alive its connection to ancient culture and tradition.

In ancient Greece and Rome, the laurel was not only a symbol of victory and wisdom, but also a key element in various rituals and religious practices. Indeed, the laurel was believed to have purifying and protective powers. For instance, in ancient times, burning laurel leaves was believed to ward off disease and bring luck. Laurel is also the protagonist of numerous folk beliefs. In the past, it was believed that carrying a laurel leaf could protect against lightning and attract good luck. In some cultures, the leaves were used during purification rituals, burning them to ward off evil spirits. Even today, laurel retains a strong presence in folk traditions, and many people consider it a symbol of protection and good luck.

Cultivating the hallore is a relatively simple task thanks to the resistance and adaptability of the plant. Laurel prefers temperate climates and well-drained soils, but is also able to withstand more adverse conditions, such as periods of dryness or less fertile soils. To keep the plant healthy and encourage lush growth, it is essential to prune the laurel regularly. This helps to preserve its shape and stimulate the development of new shoots. This nectariferous plant provides shelter and nourishment for various species of birds and insects, thus enriching the local ecosystem.

Biodiversa is the free game app for biodiversity monitoring and ecosystem protection that allows users to easily 'collect' and identify plants and flowers encountered during an outdoor walk. An ambitious citizen science project that aims to create a cooperative archive dedicated to flora (and in a second phase fauna) in Europe, involving player users with challenges to catalogue species, some of which are rare or endangered. Available for iOS and Android, Biodiversa has a dynamic similar to that of some well-known free-to-play video games that encourage moving and travelling in the real world to 'collect' characters. In fact, the app made by 3Bee offers a gaming experience in which plants are all to be 'collected' and identified in order to collect experience points, level up and climb the leaderboard.