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Magnolia vs. Bay Tree: What's the Difference?

Common names confuse: some call magnolias "bay." Scientifically, both are in subclass Magnoliidae (flowering plants with trimerous flowers, single-pored pollen). Magnolias: order Magnoliales, family Magnoliaceae (~225 species). Bay trees: order Laurales, family Lauraceae (~2500 species). Magnolias have larger, showier flowers; bay leaves are culinary. They are distant cousins.

Taxonomy

Magnolia: Magnoliales > Magnoliaceae.
Bay: Laurales > Lauraceae.
Shared subclass: Magnoliidae.

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