noun
Machilus thunbergii; Japanese bay tree
A species of evergreen laurel native to East Asia, commonly found in Japan. The name usually appears in kana.
タブノキは海岸近くの森でよく見られる。
Machilus thunbergii is often seen in forests near the coast.
この公園には大きなタブノキが何本もある。
There are several large Japanese bay trees in this park.
The Japanese name タブノキ (tabunoki) is of uncertain origin. It may derive from an old regional name for the tree. The kanji 椨 is a kokuji (Japanese-created character) specifically for this tree.