Description
– Native to China south of the Yangtze River, Taiwan, southern Japan, Korea, India, and Vietnam
– Can grow up to 20-30m (66-98ft) tall
– Leaves have a glossy, waxy appearance and smell of camphor when crushed
– Produces bright green foliage with small white flowers in spring
– Clusters of black, berry-like fruit around 1cm (0.39in) in diameter
Uses
– Cultivated for camphor and timber production
– Used medicinally and as an ingredient in the production of smokeless gunpowder and celluloid
– Has insect-repellent qualities
– Camphor is a white crystalline substance obtained from the tree
– Used as a culinary spice, component of incense, and insect repellent
Chemical constituents
– Contains volatile chemical compounds in all plant parts
– Steam distilled for essential oils
– Different chemical variants called chemotypes: camphor, linalool, 1,8-cineole, nerolidol, safrole, and borneol
– Chemotypes can vary depending on the country of origin
– Cineole fraction used in China to manufacture fake eucalyptus oil
Invasive species
– In Australia, introduced as an ornamental tree in 1822
– Considered a noxious weed in Queensland and central to northern New South Wales
– Invades rainforests, pastures, and competes against native eucalyptus trees
– Seeds are attractive to birds and help with rapid distribution
– Can develop hollows quickly, benefiting wildlife
Use by butterflies
– The larval stages of two native Australian butterflies feed on camphor
– Despite being an introduced plant, it serves as a food source for these butterflies Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camphora_officinarum
