Cinnamomum camphora
Common names
Camphor laurel
Family
Lauraceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
Conservation status
Not applicable
Distribution
Indigenous to China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Korea, Southern Japan. First recorded wild from New Zealand in 1999 (reported Heenan et al. (2002). Now widespread and locally common in the northern North Island
Habitat
In New Zealand scattered in urban areas and adjoining indigenous forest remnants but also spreading into large tracts of indigenous forest.
Detailed description
Trees 15‒30 m tall, with stout trunk and broad spreading crown. Bark light brown or greyish-brown, rugose, tessellated, finely fissured strongly aromatic bark. Young branches glabrous, maroon, reddish or green, rounded. Leaf buds prominent enclosed by caducous scales. Leaves alternatively arranged or in pseudo-whorls; petioles 15‒40 mm long, glabrous; lamina 45‒110 ×24‒60 mm, elliptic, ovate-lanceolate, ovate to broadly ovate, glabrous, adaxially glossy green to yellow-green (young growth usually flushed pink), abaxially glaucous or dull green, adaxial midrib yellowish to cream prominent, side-veins three, prominent, apex apiculate, base attenuate to narrowly cuneate. Domatia pouched, domatium located within axils of midrib and basal secondary veins, and sometimes between secondary and tertiary veins. Inflorescence a terminal to sub-terminal 8‒16‒20 or more-flowered panicle 70‒80(‒120) mm long. Flowers 5‒8 mm diameter, petals 1.5‒2.5(‒3.2) mm long, ovate to truncate, greenish-white, white to pale yellow Fruit a globular glossy black drupe 8‒10 mm diameter, held embedded in a cupular green to glaucous green receptacle 5‒6 mm diameter.
Flower colours
White, Yellow
Year naturalised
1999
Origin
China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Korea, Southern Japan
Reason for introduction
Ornamental. Widely grown in gardens, parks, as a street verge and shade tree
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 16 June 2020: Description by P.J. de Lange based on New Zealand specimens
References and further reading
Heenan, P.B.; de Lange, P.J.; Cameron, E.K.; Champion, P.D. 2002: Checklist of dicotyledons, gymnosperms, and pteridophytes naturalised or casual in New Zealand: additional records 1999–2000. New Zealand Journal of Botany 40: 155-174.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Cinnamomum camphora Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/cinnamomum-camphora/ (Date website was queried)