Machilus thunbergii

Machilus thunbergii (syn. Persea thunbergii), the Japanese bay tree, red machilus, or tabunoki, is a widespread species of flowering plant in the family Lauraceae.^[3] It is native to Vietnam, Taiwan, southeast and north-central China, the Korean Peninsula, and Japan.^[2] A sturdy evergreen tree, usually 10–15 m (30–50 ft) tall, and reaching 20 m (70 ft), it is used for timber, and as a street tree.^[4] Its bark is the source of makko, a powder used to make a mosquito‑repelling incense.^[5] It prefers coastal areas, and can handle saline soil.^[3]

• 
  Makko powder, top left
• 
  Flowers
• 
  As a street tree in South Korea
• 
  Sapling at the Chengdu Botanical Garden
• 
  Hasaki no O-tabu
• 
  As an object of veneration, Japan

Machilus thunbergii
In Hiroshima Castle
Close up of leaves
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Magnoliids
Order:	Laurales
Family:	Lauraceae
Genus:	Machilus
Species:	M. thunbergii
Binomial name
Machilus thunbergii Siebold & Zucc.
Synonyms[2]
List Laurus indica Thunb. Machilus arisanensis (Hayata) Hayata Machilus kwashotensis Hayata Machilus nanshoensis Kaneh. Machilus taiwanensis Kamik. Persea arisanensis (Hayata) Kosterm. Persea thunbergii (Siebold & Zucc.) Kosterm.