Neolitsea

{{Short description|Genus of shrubs}}

{{automatic taxobox

|image = Neolitsea sericea2.jpg

|image_caption = Neolitsea sericea

|taxon = Neolitsea

|authority = (Benth. & Hook.f.) Merr.

|subdivision_ranks = Species

|subdivision = See text

|synonyms =

Bryantea Raf.

|}}

Neolitsea is a genus of about 85 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the laurel family Lauraceae. They range from Indo-Malaysia to East Asia{{cite web|url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=122004 |title=Neolitsea |author=Puhua Huang & Henk van der Werff |work=Flora of China |publisher=Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA |access-date=31 March 2013}} to Australia. The leaves are alternate, clustered, or verticillate, rarely subopposite. Species are dioecious, with separate male and female plants.

The Australian species, of which there are three, are commonly known as bolly gums and are fairly common in the rainforests of the east.

Many species of the genus Neolitsea have been analysed for essential oils and their biological activity.{{Cite journal | last1 = John | first1 = A. J. | last2 = George | first2 = V. | last3 = Pradeep | first3 = N. S. | last4 = Sethuraman | first4 = M. G. | title = Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of the leaf, bark and fruit oils of Neolitsea fischeri Gamble | doi = 10.1080/10412905.2008.9700012 | journal = Journal of Essential Oil Research | volume = 20 | issue = 3 | pages = 279–282 | year = 2008 }}