The genus Cinnamomum

232 K. Nirmal Babu, P.N. Ravindran and M. Shylaja
Table 9.15 Dry matter distribution in camphor trees (kg/ha)
Diameter Leaf Actual above ground biomass Fruit Total
class (cm)
Twig branch Bark Bole
biomass
07–12 81.4 425.7 327.8 2302.8 – 3137.7
12–17 333.7 3700.1 1190.2 9584.8 – 14808.8
17–22 897.1 6766.2 1785.4 18699.7 14.9 28163.3
22–27 906.3 7824.9 1450.5 15913.9 18.0 26114.0
27–32 904.3 6552.3 1212.1 13805.8 16.4 22490.9
32–37 442.1 3422.9 440.8 5312.5 9.1 9627.4
Total 3565.2 28692.1 6406.9 65619.5 58.3 104342.0
(3.4) (27.5) (6.1) (62.9) (0.06)
Source: Singh and Negi, 1997.
Table 9.16 Camphor and camphor oil content of trees growing in different areas in India
Oil from Dehra Dun Calcutta Bangalore (40-years
(22-year old tree) old trees)
Camphor Camphor Oil Camphor Camphor oil Camphor Camphor oil
Leaves 1.32 0.69 0.54 1.50 0.90 1.2
Twigs Nil 0.12 – – 0.33 0.69
Small branches Nil 0.13 Nil 0.07 0.06 1.03
Large branches 0.50 0.25 Nil 0.17 0.13–0.30 0.93–2.0
Stumps 0.69 0.29 Nil 0.95 1.06–1.44 4.36–8.04
Roots – – – 2.03 1.91 6.04
Source: Chopra et al., 1958.
Table 9.17 Camphor and camphor oil contents in leaves from trees growing in different locations
Total oil Camphor Camphor oil
Nilgiris 1.0 0.1–0.7 0.9–0.3
Madras 2.62 1.99 0.63
Burma 1.51 1.03 0.48
Cochin 2.33 2.01 0.32
Dehra Dun 4.04 0.38 3.66
Source: Chopra et al., 1958.
Camphor leaf oil is no longer produced in India and in the other countries mentioned
above as its production became uneconomical, leaving China, Taiwan and Japan as the
only commercial producers of camphor oil.
Camphor seeds contain about 42% of a yellowish white crystalline aromatic
fat (mp.21–23°) with a high laurin content, which has the following physical constants:
sp-gravity (25°) 0.925; optical rotation (25°) 1.4442; acid value 0.6; saponification
value 272.3; iodine value 4.0; unsaponifiable matter 0.7%. The oil is similar to coconut