The genus Cinnamomum

Table 9.1 Relation between age of trees and yield of camphor and camphor oil
The Taiwan (Formosan) camphor industry
Camphor Tree 219
Age of Growth of tree Camphor and camphor oil
trees (yrs)
Height (cm) Diameter at Volume Camphor % Camphor Total %
breast height (cu. m) oil %
5 1.75 1.19 0.0006 – 1.00 1.00
10 4.68 5.92 0.0095 0.13 1.08 1.21
15 6.95 10.65 0.0503 0.27 1.15 1.42
20 8.78 15.37 0.1170 0.50 1.50 2.00
25 10.27 20.10 0.2160 0.63 1.50 2.13
30 11.52 24.82 0.3473 0.82 1.40 2.22
35 12.57 29.55 0.5164 0.88 1.40 2.28
40 13.48 34.22 0.7255 1.00 1.30 2.30
45 14.26 39.00 0.9770 1.05 1.30 2.35
50 14.94 43.72 1.2760 1.10 1.30 2.40
55 15.55 48.45 1.6210 1.14 1.30 2.44
60 – 50.90 – 1.28 1.20 2.48
65 – 56.20 – 1.35 1.20 2.55
70 – 60.00 – 1.35 1.20 2.55
75 – 62.80 – 1.42 1.20 2.62
80 – 65.70 – 1.52 1.10 2.62
100 – 78.10 – 1.60 1.10 2.70
120 – 85.70 – 1.70 1.10 2.80
Source: Hiraizumi, 1950.
Table 9.2 Yield of camphor and camphor oil from different plant parts
Leaves Branches Trunk Stump Roots
Camphor (%) 1.0 0.3 0.8 1.3 0.8
Camphor oil (%) 0.3 0.6 1.4 1.8 2.5
Total yield (%) 1.3 0.9 2.2 3.1 3.3
Taiwan (previously Formosa) was earlier a major producer and exporter of camphor
and camphor oil. According to tradition, the process of camphor recovery was introduced
into Formosa from Japan between 1664 and 1683 by Chang Chang Kong
(Hiraizumi, 1950), or from nearby mainland China. When Formosa was conquered
by China in 1683, camphor trees came under the protection of the state. In the nineteenth
century the camphor industry began to prosper and Formosan camphor
became world famous. During the civil war there was such a demand for camphor in
the United States that it bought Formosa’s entire camphor yield. The US even made
an effort to purchase Formosa to monopolise the camphor trade (Morton, 1977).
In 1895 Japan annexed Formosa and established monopoly over the camphor industry.
Following the Second World War Formosa became the Nationalist Republic of
China under Chiang-Kaishak. The camphor industry became a state industry and it
continues to be so even now.