Machilus_thunbergii
Machilus thunbergii
Species of plant in the genus Machilus
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]