Cinnamomum camphora (Cultivated)

Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J.Presl, Prir. Rostlin 2: 36 1825. (Syn: Camphora camphora (L.) H.Karst. ….; Laurus camphora L.; Ocotea japonica (Garsault) Thell.; Persea camphora (L.) Spreng.; ….);

Camphor tree, Camphorwood, camphor laurel, shiu leaf, gum camphor, laurel camphor; Karpur (Hindi); pachai karpooram (Tamil: பச்சை கற்பூரம்); karpuram, harathi karpuram in Telugu;

An evergreen tree with ovate-elliptic leaves shed and immediately replaced in early spring, flowers in panicles; flowers yellowish; fruit globose, finally black.

Chopped wood of stem and roots is the source of natural camphor. Camphor oil of commerce is the oil from which camphor has been removed. Camphor is extensively used in medicine as counter-irritant in muscular strains, inflammations and rheumatic conditions, also used in cardiac depressions, hysteria and nervousness.

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Camphor – indiantreepix | Google Groups : 7 posts by 5 authors. Attachments (1)
I clicked this pix in Botanical Garden Sarangpur near Chandigarh. I believe the scietific name is Cinnamomum camphor and comon name is Camphor.

Yes it is Cinnamomum camphora, the camphor tree

Yes … It is Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl.
common names Kapoor; camphor; Japanese camphor

Is this the source of Camphor we use in religious rituals ?
Karpuri Tulsi, Ocimum kilimandscharicum, has a camphor-like fragrance. Any connection also with Camphor, apart from the smell ?

You asked about Ocimum kilimandcharicum has any connection with Camphor? Yes indeed. During second world war time there were huge demand of camphor as a sedative medicine and Ocimum kilimandcharicum from Africa was the substitute for Cinnamomum camphora. This is from a personal intimation from one of my senior colleagues.

I am not sure but what I remember is this campher donot allow any other plant to grow nearby due to the alkaloids in roots, which we extrct as kapoor. Is it true?

Thanks … for info, which I have not come across before, on Camphor-rich plants. While searching further for Camphor in Wikipedia, I learnt that earlier Camphor was produced from Cinnamomum camphor, Camphor tree, Camphorwood or Camphor laurel), but now it is obtained from Turpentine synthetically.

Other plants/trees with camphor-like smell are :

Dryobalanops aromatica, Family: Dipterocarpaceae,
Ocotea usambarensis, East African Camphorwood Family: Lauraceae,
Camphor basil, Ocimum kilimandscharicum, Family: Lamiaceae,
African Blue basil (Ocimum kilimandscharicum × basilicum hybrid ).

Camphor | ( Cinnamomum camphora ) – indiantreepix | Google Groups :

Camphor – Hindi name :- Kapoor ; Sanskrit – Karpur ; Tamil- Karpooram
Camphor is a white crystalline substance used as a culinary spice, as a component of incense, as medicine, as bug repellant. Hindus use it in rituals.
Particularly after Pancha-arati, karpoor arati is always done in shrines and in pujas.. This is a common commodity, but what is its source ?
A few days before ID for Cinnamomum camphora was sought. … asked -‘ Is this the source of camphor we use in religious rituals’. In absence of a direct answer i searched the net and would like to share it with you.
The answer is – yes. Cinnamomum camphora is a large tree, grows upto 20-30 m tall. It is native to Taiwan. South Japan, South-east China, Indochina. The production of camphor from it was a major industry in Taiwan.
Camphor is obtained in Japan by cutting the wood, roots etc in small pieces and boiling them in large iron stills for 48 hours. The camphor sublime and settles in crystallization box. This is sold in market as Japan camphor. Its formula-C10H16-O
There is the other type called Borneo camphor: C10H18-O. This is obtained from a huge tree, Dryobalanops camphora/aromatica growing upto 65-75 m . This is so much prized by the natives that it hardly appears in the market.
It is cultivated in Australia where it is called camphor laurel.
Camphor can be synthesized from turpentine – C10H16
Will somebody kindly enlighten us on its position in India ? Do we produce or import?

It was nice of you to send the detailed extraction method. I was not knowing it. I had thought it to be similar to kattha, kat in marathin which is used in pan.
I also will like to know that if it is not produced in India how can it get such a important place in our pujas?

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Cinnamomum camphora from Panchkula and Delhi:
Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J.Presl, Prir. Rostlin 2: 36 1825.
syn: Camphora officinarum Nees; Laurus camphora L.

Camphor tree, the source of camphor. An evergreen tree with ovate-elliptic leaves shed and immediately replaced in early spring, flowers in panicles; flowers yellowish; fruit globose, finally black.

Photographed from Herbal Garden Delhi and Cactus garden Panchkula

Common names: Camphor tree
Hindi: Kapur, karpu
Tel: Karppuram
Tam: Karpurammu

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Mine from Herbal Garden samalkha Panipat

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Piperaceae, Lauraceae and Thymelaeaceae Fortnight: Lauraceae-Cinnamomum camphora from Panchkula-GSSEP06 : 1 post by 1 author. Attachments (2).

Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J.Presl, Prir. Rostlin 2: 36 1825.

syn: Camphora officinarum Nees; Laurus camphora L.

Camphor tree, the source of camphor. An evergreen tree with ovate-elliptic leaves shed and immediately replaced in early spring, flowers in panicles; flowers yellowish; fruit globose, finally black. Photographed from Cactus garden Panchkula

Common names: Camphor tree

Hindi: Kapur, karpu

Tel: Karppuram
Tam: Karpurammu

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Piperaceae, Lauraceae and Thymelaeaceae Fortnight: Lauraceae-Cinnamomum camphora from Delhi -GSSEP07: 1 post by 1 author. Attachments (1).
Cinnamomum camphora, photographed from Herbal Garden, Delhi.

Flora-australia-57:
Cinnamomum camphora–Lauraceae,-Flowers and tree.
Big tree, introduced from China and Japan. Planted very widely in New South Welse, Australia.
heavily scented, at present in full blossum.

Cinnamomum camphora : For Validation : Lalbagh,Bangalore : 300314 : AK-43 : Attachments (2). 3 posts by 2 authors.
Pictures taken in Nov,2013. Cultivated tree. Kindly validate.

Looks like C. camphora, the Camphor Tree

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Piperaceae, Lauraceae and Thymelaeaceae Fortnight: Lauraceae-Cinnamomum camphora from KUK-NS SEP 01: 3 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (5).

This tree was shot in flowers from Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra…
Camphor Tree– Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl.

Nice image, yes it is

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Piperaceae, Lauraceae and Thymelaeaceae Fortnight: Lauraceae-Cinnamomum camphora from California -GSSEP08 : 2 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (3).
Cinnamomum camphora, photographed from California

Very nice pictures of C. camphora

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Small Tree For ID : California : 02NOV14 : AK-5 : 8 posts by 4 authors. Attachments (1)
A small cultivated tree seen in the front yard of a house in Sacramento on 7th Oct,14..

Small berry-like green fruits turning black on ripening.

Have just this picture, since it was someone else’s garden, didn’t wait there.
Leaves were leathery reminded me of Ficus benjamina but the tiny fruits were different.

not ficus benjamina
look at the leaf veins
these are three arising at the very start
f. ben does it differently…. one main and then very thin ones run the entire length of the leaf at about 70 to 85 degrees to the main vein right up to the very edge where there is sort of networking of the veins.

Also fruits are on longish stalks
that if i remember correctly is also not ben.

what it is I don’t know… too many ficuses and too many cultivars. esp. from hawaii and malaya etc…

may be some of our ficus guys know…
also ben’s fruits start off green, turn yellow/orange and drop… only rarely do they turn black.. why and when … I don’t now.. disease? drought?

I know its not Ficus benjamina. This is something else. Just that the leaves from a distant looked similar.

Fruits are very different.

Adding a cropped picture…..hope it helps.
And this was seen in Fremont on the 28th of Sept, not in Sacramento.

To me it looks like Cinnamomum camphora, although not sure if it can grow in CA.

… may be just right
that would explain the black color of the fruit and the cap on the fruits and leaf veins
and … they do well in southern California
there is a famous stretch of a street in Pasadena lined with magnificent camphor trees, old mature ones. gets written up periodically in LA times.

Last night, Lauraceae came to my mind. And it turned out right. Many thanks for the id.

My trees are still not over, later I will start garden flowers and then fruits and vegetables.

There was so much to see and very little time.
Hoping to visit again and cover many more.

I think yes

Cinnamomum camphora.

Here are mine from California, Panchkula and Delhi
efi thread 1
efi thread 2

Thanks and yes, perfectly matching with my pictures. Thanks for validation.

Camphor Tree (18.08.09 NJ) – indiantreepix | Google Groups : 1 post by 1 author. Attachments (2)
Attached herewith photos of Cinnamomum camphora (Camphor– Karpur) tree taken at a flower show.

Req. for ID – 1:
My collegue … has taken about 500 plant photos in Kerala / Tamil Nadu border 6 years ago when he was student.
I request eleders in this forum to identify them. All photos are not of professional quality. I will post few images daily for ID.

I think this is a species of Neolitsea and not Cinnamomum as shown in the name board.

I think close to images at Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J.Presl