09.04.2013 Views

The genus Cinnamomum

The genus Cinnamomum

The genus Cinnamomum

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

(a) (c)<br />

Botany and Crop Improvement of Cinnamon and Cassia 17<br />

Figure 2.1 (a) A cinnamon tree – about five years old with fruits and flowers. (b) A close view of a flowering<br />

branch. (c) A twig with inflorescence.<br />

Commun. For. Res. Inst. Bogor, 57: 24, 1957; in Reinwardtia r: 216, 1956; Chopra<br />

et al., Gloss. Ind. Med. Pl. 65, 1956; Wood, in J. Arnold Arb. 39: 335, 1958;<br />

Kostermans, Bib. Lau., 276, 1964.<br />

Syn. C. aromaticum Nees. Nees, in Wallich, Pl. As. Rar. 2: 74, 1831; in Flora 15 (2):<br />

585, 1831; Syst. Laur, 52, 1836; Nees & Ebermayer, Handb. Med. Pharm. Bot., 526,<br />

1832; Lindley, F1. Med. 330, 1838; Wight, Icon. 136, 1839. Laurus cassia Wight in<br />

Madras J.Lit. & Sci. 9: 130–135, 1839. Presl., Wseobecny, Rostalinopsis, 2:1302,<br />

1846; Miquel, F1. Ind. Bat. 1(1): 896, 1858; Meissner, in Dc: Prodr. 15(1): 12, 1864;<br />

Balfour, timber Trees & For. India & E Asia, ed. 3: 74, 1870; Lukmanoff, Nomencl.<br />

Icon. Canell. Comphr. 11, 1889, Kostermans, Bib. Lau, 253, 1964.<br />

C. cassia is a native of China and Vietnam, being cultivated in those regions as well<br />

as in the Malayan Archipelago and the north-eastern Himalayan region. It is a small<br />

tree, the bark of which forms the cassia bark or Chinese cassia or Chinese cinnamon.<br />

Leaves are opposite, glabrous above, minutely hairy below, hairs microscopic, oblonglanceolate,<br />

three-ribbed from about 5 mm above the base, side veins ascending to the<br />

apex, exstipulate. <strong>The</strong> length/breadth value is 4.26. Inflorescence is axillary panicle<br />

(panicled cyme), exceeding the leaves, many flowered, peduncle long, flowers with long<br />

pedicel and minutely hairy. Floral characteristics are similar to those of C. verum. Fruit<br />

is an ovoid one-seeded berry, seated in an enlarged perianth cup with truncate perianth<br />

lobes. Flowering from October to December (see also Chapter 6).<br />

(b)

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!