Wild cinnamon tree
Cinnamomum iners
Family: Lauraceae
What it is like
A large tree. It grows to 20 m high. The trunk can be 20 cm across. The leaves are opposite, smooth and leathery. The leaf blades are 12-35 cm long by 5.5-8.5 cm wide. New flushes of leaves follow rain and are reddish pink. They are rounded at the base and taper to the tip. The flowers are yellowish and borne in compound flower clusters. The fruit is oval. It is 10 cm long by 7 cm wide. It is greenish when fresh.
There are about 250 Cinnamomum species.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. They occur in Mindanao, Tawi-tawi, Samar, Palawan and Mindanao in the Philippines. In southern China it grows between 140 and 1000 m altitude. In Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Asia, Cambodia, China, East Africa, Ethiopia, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam
How it is used for food
The bark is used as a spice. The leaves are used as seasoning especially in curries. An essential oil distilled from the leaves is used to flavour candy and sweetmeats. The fruit are recorded as eaten.
The fruit are eaten by children.
Edible parts
Bark, spice, fruit, leaves
How it is grown
Plants can be grown by seeds.
In southern China plants flower in March and April and fruit in May and June.
Its other names
Local names
Adavi lavangapatte, Da ye gui, Jangli-darchini, Kattuk-karuvappattai, Kayu manis, Ki kacengal, Lavangam, Medang kalong, Medang kemangi, Ob choe khiat, Pohon kayumanis alam, Pohon medangteja, Que rung, Ranachadalchini, Teja badak, Teja lawang, Teja, Tikhi
Synonyms
Cinnamomum aromaticum Zoll.; Cinnamomum curtisii Lukman.; Cinnamomum gracile Miq.; Cinnamomum griffithii Meisn.; Cinnamomum manillarum Lukman; Cinnamomum pseudosintok Miq.; Cinnamomum rauwolfii Blume; Cinnamomum reinwardtii Miq.; Laurus malabathrica Roxb.; Persea nitida Spreng.; and others Cinnamomum eucalyptoides T.Nees; ? Cinnamomum nitidum Blume; ? Cinnamomum paraneuron Miq.; ?