Camphora parthenoxylon
| Camphora parthenoxylon | |
|---|---|
| |
| The trunk of Cinnamomum parthenoxylon, Siu Lek Yuen Green Trail, Sha Tin, NT, Hong Kong | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Laurales |
| Family: | Lauraceae |
| Genus: | Camphora |
| Species: | C. parthenoxylon
|
| Binomial name | |
| Camphora parthenoxylon (Jack) Nees[2]
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Synonymy
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Camphora parthenoxylon is an evergreen tree in the genus Camphora, 10–20 m (33–66 ft) tall. It is native to South and East Asia (Bhutan, Myanmar, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam).[3]
Nomenclature
[edit]Camphora parthenoxylon is known variously as Selasian wood,[4] saffrol laurel,[5] or Martaban camphor wood in English.[6] It has the outdated heterotypic synonym Laurus porrecta (Roxb.). The species name parthenoxylon derives from parthenos xylon (Greek: παρθενός ξύλον), meaning "virgin wood".
The common name in Chinese is huangzhang (黄樟)[7] and in Spanish alcanforero amarillo,[8] both meaning "yellow camphor". In Vietnamese it is called re hương[9] and in Cambodia, it is thought to be the tree known as mreah prew phnom (Khmer: ម្រះព្រៅភ្នំ).[10]
Description
[edit]Camphora parthenoxylon is an evergreen tree, which grows up to 50 metres tall.[1][11] with a trunk to 60 cm in diameter.[11] The tree has gray to brown bark. Its leaves are glossy green ovals 7–10 cm long with a point at the end. Like many plants in the Lauraceae, the leaves give off a pleasant smell when crushed. The flowers appear in clusters and are green and very small. The fruits are blackish drupes.[12]
Range and habitat
[edit]Camphora parthenoxylon ranges from Nepal and the eastern Himalayas through Assam, Indochina, southern China, Hainan, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, and the Lesser Sunda Islands.[2] The species' estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) is very large at 8,025,973 km2, and its estimated area of occupancy (AOO) is 520 km2.[1]
It grows in primary and secondary lowland and montane tropical and subtropical humid forests, from sea level to 2,000 metres elevation. It can grow on sand, sandstone, or granite substrates.[1]
In Borneo it is found in Sarawak (Kuching and Lundu districts), Sabah (Keningau, Kota Belud, Lahad Datu, Pensiangan, Ranau, Sandakan, Tambunan, Tawau, and Tenom districts), and East Kalimantan, where it grows in lowland and montane rain forest to 2000 metres elevation, and is often found in secondary vegetation.[11]
Uses
[edit]
The aromatic bark of the plant is used for flavoring, not unlike many other Cinnamomum species.[13]
The tree is of special concern, as it is being harvested at a high rate to obtain safrole, a precursor to the pesticide synergist piperonyl butoxide, the flavorant and fragrance piperonal, and the psychoactive drug MDMA. Much of this illicit harvesting is happening in the Cardamom Mountains and Botum Sakor National Park in Cambodia at the moment.[14][15] The documentary film "Forest of ecstasy" (Vanguard 2009) is investigating the issue on location.[16][17]
An extract from the bark has been shown in rats to reduce postprandial hyperglycemia.[18]
In Indonesia, the flowers of C. parthenoxylon symbolize love and connection between the living and the dead. Traditionally, in the Kudus Regency on the island of Java, the flowers were scattered on tombs by family members.[19]
Conservation
[edit]In 2004, the Cambodian government classified C. parthenoxylon as a rare species and prohibited any logging of this tree. In addition, the production, import, and export of safrole rich oils has been illegal in Cambodia since 2007.[14]
In Vietnam the tree is considered critically endangered.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e de Kok, R. (2020). "Cinnamomum parthenoxylon". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T33198A2834736. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T33198A2834736.en. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ^ a b c Camphora parthenoxylon (Jack) Nees Plants of the World Online. Accessed 28 July 2024.
- ^ Li, Xi-wen; Li, Jie; van der Werff, Henk. "Camphora parthenoxylon". Flora of China. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2013 – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
- ^ Schimmel (April 1911). Annual Report on Essential Oils, Synthetic Perfumes, &c. p. 43.
- ^ Coster, B (1993). "Diskettes with commercial Woodnames". Tervuren Xylarium Wood Database. Hoofddorp, Holland. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
- ^ Kurz, Sulpice (1875). Preliminary report on the forest and other vegetation of Pegu. Calcutta: C.B. Lewis, Baptist Mission Press. pp. xcix. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ Wiersema, John H.; León, Blanca, eds. (2016). "Cinammonum partheloxylon". World Economic Plants: A Standard Reference, Second Edition (2 ed.). CRC Press. p. 176. ISBN 9781466576810. Also under Indices of Common Names: Non-Latin Script Languages, Chinese, p. 1270
- ^ Porcher, Michel H. (30 April 2007). "Sorting Cinnamomum names". The University of Melbourne. Archived from the original on 18 February 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2009.
- ^ Sein & Mitlöhner (2011), p. 1.
- ^ Farmer, Steven (2017). "Chapter 5 Bath Salts and Other Drugs of Abuse". Strange Chemistry: The Stories Your Chemistry Teacher Wouldn't Tell You. John Wiley & Sons. p. 187. ISBN 9781119265290.
- ^ a b c Wuu-Kuang, Soh (2011). Taxonomic revision of Cinnamomum (Lauraceae) in Borneo. Blumea – Biodiversity, Evolution and Biogeography of Plants, Volume 56, Number 3, 2011, pp. 241–264(24). Naturalis Biodiversity Center DOI: https://doi.org/10.3767/000651911X615168
- ^ Sánchez de Lorenzo-Cáceres, José Manuel. "Cinnamomum parthenoxylon". arbolesornamentales.com. Archived from the original on 20 December 2008. Retrieved 3 December 2009.
- ^ Uphof, Johannes Cornelis Theodorus (1968) [1959]. Dictionary of Economic Plants (second ed.). New York, NY: J. Cramer. p. 131. ISBN 9783904144711. OCLC 48693661.
- ^ a b "Strengthening the response Against Exploitation of Forestry Resources through Organized Law Enforcement (SAFROLE)". United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Archived from the original on 19 November 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ^ Campbell, Sam (30 August 2009). "Harvested to make Ecstasy, Cambodia's trees are felled one by one". GlobalPost. Archived from the original on 7 September 2009. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
- ^ Adam Yamaguchi; Joanne Shen; Mike Horn Yasu Tsuji, eds. (29 October 2009). "Forest of Ecstasy". Vanguard. Season 3. Episode 3. Current TV. Archived from the original on 13 October 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
- ^ Documentary film: Forest of Ecstasy Archived 21 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine Adam Yamaguchi (reporter). Vanguard 2009. Hosted by Cambodian Information Center
- ^ Jia, Q; Liu X; Wu X; Wang R; Hu X; Li Y; Huang C. (August 2009). "Hypoglycemic activity of a polyphenolic oligomer-rich extract of Cinnamomum parthenoxylon bark in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats". Phytomedicine. 16 (8): 744–750. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2008.12.012. PMID 19464860. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
- ^ Hamdani, Sylviana (27 November 2009). "Five-Star Tradition at Le Meridien Hotel in Jakarta". The Jakarta Globe. Archived from the original on 4 December 2009. Retrieved 3 December 2009.
- Bibliography
- Sein, Chaw Chaw; Mitlöhner, Ralph (2011). Cinnamomum parthenoxylon (Jack) Meisn: ecology and silviculture in Vietnam. CIFOR. ISBN 9786028693660.