The genus Cinnamomum

214 K. Nirmal Babu, P.N. Ravindran and M. Shylaja
var. procera Blume ex meissner
var. quintuplinervia Miquel
var. rotundata Meissner
var. rotundifolia Makino ex Honda
var. typica Petyaev
Hirota (1951) suggested the following subdivision based on chemical characteristics
1. Subspecies Eucamphor Hirota
2. Subspecies Formosana Hirota
Var. occidentalis Hirota
Sub var. eucamphor
Sub var. cineola
Sub var. safrola
Sub var. sesquiterpenia
Sub var. linaloola
Sub var. linaloid
Var. Orientalis Hirota
Sub var. eucamphor
Sub var. cineola
Sub var. safrola
Sub var. sesquiterpenia
Sub var. linaloola
Sub var. linaloid
Sub var. borneola
3. Subspecies Newzealandia Hirota
var. eucamphor
var. cineola
A great number of variations have been noticed even in the segregating progenies of
camphor trees. Processes such as natural crossing and segregation might have led to the
great diversity in morphological and chemical characteristics present in this species.
Ecology, propagation and husbandry
The natural habitat of C. camphora is primary forest, but it also grows in open fields up
to 3000 m altitude. It flourishes in sub-tropical climates and at higher elevations of the
tropics. High rainfall is favoured by camphor trees; in its natural habitat the rainfall
ranges from 1000–3500 mm but it does not tolerate water logging (Windadri and
Rahayu, 1999).
The plant has been successfully cultivated in many countries. In India commercial
cultivation has existed in Dehra Dun, Saharanpur, Calcutta, Nilgiris and Mysore.
In Ceylon the camphor grows well up to an elevation of 1500 m; while in Nilgiris
(south India) the tree thrives even up to 2000 m. Being a shade tolerant species it has
colonised well under the pine forests of the sub-Himalayan zones as a secondary