Bay leaves grow on the Bay laurel tree (Laurus nobilis)Basic information can be found on Wikipedia. See the link below.
A bay leaf is a herb derived from a shrub of the family Lauraceae.
No but you can use Bay leaf for curry leaf
the leaf
No. 'Bay leaf' is an English word. Its Italian meaning is foglia di alloro.
Depending on the spice, it can be found in the leaves (basil, parsley, bay Leaf); it can be found in seeds (celery and black pepper); or it can be found in the root as in ginger.
basil leaf in malay
It is "bay leaf"... in broader sense YES it is called bay leaf, But real TEJ-PAATA in Indian means a particular variety. Note the following found in wikipedia: Indian bay leaf" (also tej pat, tejpat, tejpata तेजपत्ता or Tamalpatra तमालपत्र or Biryani aaku or Bagaara aaku or Palav aaku in Telugu or Punnai ilai in Tamil) In appearance, the leaf of the malabatrum tree is similar to the other bay leaves, but is culinarily quite different, having a fragrance and taste similar to Cinnamomum_aromaticum bark, but milder. In culinary terms, it is misleading to call it bay leaf because it is of a different genus from the bay laurel tree, does not taste the same as the bay laurel leaf, and cannot be used in cooking as a substitute for the bay laurel leaf.Thanks
What part of the tree does a bay LEAF come from? I think you answered your own question.
Bay leaf is used for seasoning only. It does not soften after cooking, and is inedible.
Bay leaf
Adds flavor to a dish. Just add the bay leaf while cooking to the liquid for stews etc. Remove the leaf once cooking is complete, or while eating.