Oliver's bark, Oliver’s Sassafras, Iron Range Cinnamonwood
Cinnamomum oliveri

Family: Lauraceae

What it is like

A large bushy tree. It grows 15-30 m tall. It can spread 5-12 m wide. The leaves are narrow and sword shaped. They are shiny green on top and paler or bluish underneath. They are 7-18 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. The leaves are wavy along the edge. New growth is red. The flowers are cream or white. They are like tubes and softly hairy. They are about 0.5 cm long. They occur in panicles at the ends of stems. The fruit is oval and 0.8 cm long. The calyx is fleshy.

There are about 250 Cinnamomum species.

Where it is found

It grows in warm temperate to tropical climates. It grows in the rainforests in Queensland and New South Wales. It requires well-drained soil and plenty of moisture. It does best in light shade. In tropical Queensland it grows from sea level to 1100 m altitude. Arboretum Tasmania.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin), Tasmania

How it is used for food

The bark is used as a spice.

Edible parts

Bark, spice

How it is grown

It can be grown from seed which must be sown fresh. The fruit are first soaked and the flesh removed before planting the seed. They germinate in 24-40 days.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Cryptocarya camphorata (Meisn.) Domin.; Cryptocarya glaucescens var. camphorata Meisn.;