Lauraceae, or the laurels, is a plant family that includes the true laurel and its closest relatives. This family comprises about 2850 known species in about 45 genera worldwide. They are dicotyledons, and occur mainly in warm temperate and tropical regions, especially Southeast Asia and South America. Many are aromatic evergreen trees or shrubs, but some, such as Sassafras, are deciduous, or include both deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs, especially in tropical and temperate climates. The genus Cassytha is unique in the Lauraceae in that its members are parasitic vines. Most laurels are highly poisonous.

जयपत्र नाम से प्रचलित पौधे अधिकतर "लॉरोसेरासस" कुल के होते हैं, पर कुछ पौधों का वर्णन "मैगनीलियेसी" तथा "रोजेसी" कुलों में भी पाया जाता है, क्रमश: उदाहरणार्थ मैगनोलिया ग्रैंडीफ्लोरा एवं प्रनूस लॉरोसेरसस इस वर्ग के पौधे उष्ण तथा शीतोष्ण प्रदेशों में पाए जाते हैं।