Camphora officinarum: Difference between revisions
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'''''Cinnamomum camphora''''' is a [[genus]] of [[evergreen]] [[tree]] that is commonly known under the names '''camphor tree''', '''camphorwood''' or '''camphor laurel'''.<ref>[https://www.wood-database.com/camphor/ Camphor - The Wood Database]</ref> |
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== Description == |
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''Cinnamomum camphora'' is native to [[China]] south of the [[Yangtze River]], [[Taiwan]], southern [[Japan]], [[Korea]], and [[Vietnam]], and has been introduced to many other countries.<ref name=FoC>{{cite web|url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200008697 |title=''Cinnamomum camphora'' |author1=Xi-wen Li |author2=Jie Li |author3=Henk van der Werff |work=Flora of China |publisher=Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA |accessdate=27 March 2013}}</ref> |
''Cinnamomum camphora'' is native to [[China]] south of the [[Yangtze River]], [[Taiwan]], southern [[Japan]], [[Korea]], and [[Vietnam]], and has been introduced to many other countries.<ref name=FoC>{{cite web|url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200008697 |title=''Cinnamomum camphora'' |author1=Xi-wen Li |author2=Jie Li |author3=Henk van der Werff |work=Flora of China |publisher=Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA |accessdate=27 March 2013}}</ref> It grows up to {{convert|20|-|30|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall.<ref name=FoC/> In Japan, where the tree is called ''kusunoki'', five camphor trees are known with a trunk circumference above {{convert|20|m|ft}}, with the largest individual, {{nihongo|''Kamō no Ōkusu''|蒲生の大楠||"Great camphor of [[Kamō, Kagoshima|Kamō]]"}}, reaching 24.22 m.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wondermondo.com/Countries/As/Japan/Kyushu/KamounoOhkusu.htm |title=Kamou no Ohkusu |publisher=Wondermondo }}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | The leaves have a glossy, waxy appearance and smell of [[camphor]] when crushed. In spring, it produces bright green foliage with masses of small white [[flower]]s. It produces clusters of black, berry-like [[fruit]] around {{convert|1|cm|in|abbr=on}} in diameter. Its pale [[Bark (botany)|bark]] is very rough and fissured vertically. |
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In Japan, where the tree is called ''kusunoki'', five camphor trees are known with a trunk circumference above {{convert|20|m|ft}}, with the largest individual, {{nihongo|''Kamō no Ōkusu''|蒲生の大楠||"Great camphor of [[Kamō, Kagoshima|Kamō]]"}}, reaching 24.22 m.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wondermondo.com/Countries/As/Japan/Kyushu/KamounoOhkusu.htm |title=Kamou no Ohkusu |publisher=Wondermondo }}</ref> |
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==Uses== |
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[[File:Camphor Grove Sha Tau Kok.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Camphor grove in [[Hong Kong]]]] |
[[File:Camphor Grove Sha Tau Kok.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Camphor grove in [[Hong Kong]]]] |
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| ⚫ | ''C. camphora'' is cultivated for camphor and timber production. The production and shipment of camphor, in a solid, waxy form, was a major industry in Taiwan prior to and during the Japanese colonial era (1895–1945). It was used medicinally and was also an important ingredient in the production of [[smokeless gunpowder]] and [[celluloid]]. Primitive stills were set up in the mountainous areas in which the tree is usually found. The wood was chipped; these chips were steamed in a retort, allowing the camphor to crystallize on the inside of a crystallization box after the vapour had passed through a cooling chamber. It was then scraped off and packed out to government-run factories for processing and sale. Camphor was one of the most lucrative of several important government monopolies under the Japanese. |
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| ⚫ | The chemical variants (or chemotypes) seem dependent upon the country of origin of the tree. |
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=== Camphor === |
=== Camphor === |
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Camphor is a white crystalline substance, obtained from the tree ''C. camphora''. Camphor has been used for many centuries as a culinary spice, a component of incense, and as a medicine. It is also an [[insect repellent]] and a flea-killing substance. |
Camphor is a white crystalline substance, obtained from the tree ''C. camphora''. Camphor has been used for many centuries as a culinary spice, a component of incense, and as a medicine. It is also an [[insect repellent]] and a flea-killing substance. |
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| ⚫ | ''C. camphora'' is |
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| ⚫ | The species contains [[volatility (chemistry)|volatile]] [[chemical compound]]s in all plant parts, and the wood and leaves are [[steam distillation|steam distilled]] for the [[essential oils]]. Camphor laurel has six different chemical variants called [[chemotype]]s, which are [[camphor]], [[linalool]], 1,8-[[cineole]], [[nerolidol]], [[safrole]], and [[borneol]]. In China, field workers avoid mixing chemotypes when harvesting by their odour.<ref>Hirota, N. and Hiroi, M., 1967. ‘The later studies on the camphor tree, on the leaf oil of each practical form and its utilisation’, ''[[Perfumery and Essential Oil Record]]'' 58, 364-367.</ref><ref>Lawrence, B. M., 1995. ‘Progress in essential oils’, ''[[Perfumer and Flavorist]]'', 20, 29-41.</ref> The cineole fraction of camphor laurel is used in China to manufacture fake "[[Eucalyptus oil]]".<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=hrWuqmtwJiEC&pg=PA20&lpg=PA20&dq=china+eucalyptus+oil+use&source=web&ots=IsiuQiHnDX&sig=p4113dfJqln9BdWCcwQv5xKmBio&hl=en Ashurst, P.R., ''Food Flavorings'', 1999]</ref> |
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| ⚫ | The chemical variants (or chemotypes) seem dependent upon the country of origin of the tree. e.g., ''C. camphora'' grown in Taiwan and Japan is normally very high in linalool, often between 80 and 85%. In India and Sri Lanka, the high camphor variety/chemotype remains dominant. ''C. camphora'' grown in Madagascar, though, is high in 1,8-cineole (averaging between 40 and 50%). The essential oil from the Madagascar trees is commercially known as ''ravintsara''.<ref name="cwrr">{{cite web |url=http://www.cropwatch.org/Ravensara-Ravintsara%20biblio%20v1.01.pdf |title=Ravensara/Ravintsara Bibliography v1.01 |author=Behra, Burfield |date=May 2009 |version=Compiled by CropWatch v1.01}}</ref> |
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==Invasive species== |
==Invasive species== |
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Revision as of 09:48, 9 August 2018
| Camphora officinarum | |
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| An ancient camphor tree (estimated to be over 1,000 years old) in Japan | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Laurales |
| Family: | Lauraceae |
| Genus: | Cinnamomum |
| Species: | C. camphora
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| Binomial name | |
| Cinnamomum camphora | |
Cinnamomum camphora is a genus of evergreen tree that is commonly known under the names camphor tree, camphorwood or camphor laurel.[1]
Description
Cinnamomum camphora is native to China south of the Yangtze River, Taiwan, southern Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, and has been introduced to many other countries.[2] It grows up to 20–30 m (66–98 ft) tall.[2] In Japan, where the tree is called kusunoki, five camphor trees are known with a trunk circumference above 20 metres (66 ft), with the largest individual, Kamō no Ōkusu (蒲生の大楠, "Great camphor of Kamō"), reaching 24.22 m.[3]
The leaves have a glossy, waxy appearance and smell of camphor when crushed. In spring, it produces bright green foliage with masses of small white flowers. It produces clusters of black, berry-like fruit around 1 cm (0.39 in) in diameter. Its pale bark is very rough and fissured vertically.
Uses
C. camphora is cultivated for camphor and timber production. The production and shipment of camphor, in a solid, waxy form, was a major industry in Taiwan prior to and during the Japanese colonial era (1895–1945). It was used medicinally and was also an important ingredient in the production of smokeless gunpowder and celluloid. Primitive stills were set up in the mountainous areas in which the tree is usually found. The wood was chipped; these chips were steamed in a retort, allowing the camphor to crystallize on the inside of a crystallization box after the vapour had passed through a cooling chamber. It was then scraped off and packed out to government-run factories for processing and sale. Camphor was one of the most lucrative of several important government monopolies under the Japanese.
Camphor
Camphor is a white crystalline substance, obtained from the tree C. camphora. Camphor has been used for many centuries as a culinary spice, a component of incense, and as a medicine. It is also an insect repellent and a flea-killing substance.
Chemical constituents
The species contains volatile chemical compounds in all plant parts, and the wood and leaves are steam distilled for the essential oils. Camphor laurel has six different chemical variants called chemotypes, which are camphor, linalool, 1,8-cineole, nerolidol, safrole, and borneol. In China, field workers avoid mixing chemotypes when harvesting by their odour.[4][5] The cineole fraction of camphor laurel is used in China to manufacture fake "Eucalyptus oil".[6]
The chemical variants (or chemotypes) seem dependent upon the country of origin of the tree. e.g., C. camphora grown in Taiwan and Japan is normally very high in linalool, often between 80 and 85%. In India and Sri Lanka, the high camphor variety/chemotype remains dominant. C. camphora grown in Madagascar, though, is high in 1,8-cineole (averaging between 40 and 50%). The essential oil from the Madagascar trees is commercially known as ravintsara.[7]
Invasive species
In Australia
Camphor laurel was introduced to Australia in 1822 as an ornamental tree for use in gardens and public parks. It has become a noxious weed throughout Queensland and central to northern New South Wales, where it is suited to the wet, subtropical climate. However, the tree provides hollows quickly in younger trees, whereas natives can take hundreds of years to develop hollows.[8] Its massive and spreading root systems disrupt urban drainage and sewer systems and degrade river banks. Its leaves have a very high carbon content, which damages water quality and freshwater fish habitats when they fall into streams and rivers[citation needed]. The camphor content of the leaf litter helps prevent other plants from germinating successfully, helping to ensure the camphor's success against any potentially competing vegetation, and the seeds are attractive to birds and pass intact through the digestive system, ensuring rapid distribution. Camphor laurel invades rainforests and pastures, and also competes against eucalyptus trees, certain species of which are the sole food source of koalas.
In the United States
Introduced to the contiguous United States around 1875, C. camphora has become naturalized in portions of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Texas, and South Carolina.[9] It has been declared a category I invasive species in Florida.[10]
Insect herbivores
In Australia, two native Lepidoptera insects, the purple brown-eye and common red-eye, larval stages feed on camphor despite it being an introduced plant.[11]
See also
References
- ^ Camphor - The Wood Database
- ^ a b Xi-wen Li; Jie Li; Henk van der Werff. "Cinnamomum camphora". Flora of China. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
- ^ "Kamou no Ohkusu". Wondermondo.
- ^ Hirota, N. and Hiroi, M., 1967. ‘The later studies on the camphor tree, on the leaf oil of each practical form and its utilisation’, Perfumery and Essential Oil Record 58, 364-367.
- ^ Lawrence, B. M., 1995. ‘Progress in essential oils’, Perfumer and Flavorist, 20, 29-41.
- ^ Ashurst, P.R., Food Flavorings, 1999
- ^ Behra, Burfield (May 2009). "Ravensara/Ravintsara Bibliography v1.01" (PDF). Compiled by CropWatch v1.01.
- ^ Noxious weed declaration for NSW
- ^ "Plants Profile: Cinnamomum camphora". Natural Resources Conservation Service. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
- ^ Forest Starr; Kim Starr; Lloyd Loope (January 2003). "Cinnamomum camphora" (PDF). United States Geological Survey: Biological Resources Division. Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
- ^ Wells,A., Edwards,E.D., Houston,W.W.K., Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea, Papilionoidea, Volume 31, CSIRO, 2001.
External links
- Camphor laurel fact sheet—Produced by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries
- Campaign to stop the spread of camphor laurels in Australia
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