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Cinnamomum camphora
'' Common Names: Camphor Tree, Camphor Laurel, Gum Camphor |
| Description: | |
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The camphor tree is a dense broadleaved evergreen that is capable of growing 50-150' tall and spreading twice that wide with a trunk up to 15' in diameter, though the largest U.S. specimens are only half that size. Camphor is widely planted as a shade tree, screen, or windbreak and is a sturdy storm resistant tree. It is native to China and Japan where it is grown commercially for its medicinal oil, Camphor oil, which has a strong penetrating fragrance and a pungent bitter flavor. The shiny foliage is made up of alternate 1-4" oval leaves dangling from long petioles. Each leaf has three distinct yellowish veins. The outer margins of the leaves tend to be somewhat wavy and turn upward. The new foliage starts out a rusty burgundy color, but the leaves soon turn dark green on the upper sides and paler green underneath. New branches emerging from the shallowly fissured grayish brown trunk are smooth and green. Twigs are usually green, but may be tinged with red when young. The inconspicuous tiny cream colored flowers are borne in the spring on branching 3" flower stalks. They are followed by large crops of fruit, comprised of round pea sized berries attached to the branchlets by cuplike little green cones. The berries first turn reddish, then ripen to black. Camphor tree can be readily identified by the distinctive odor of a crushed leaf. Camphor tree comes from China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and adjacent parts of East Asia, where it grows in mesic forests and on well-drained sites along streambanks. Camphor has become widely naturalized in Australia. In the United States, it is grown along the Gulf Coast and in California, and has escaped cultivation and become naturalized in many areas. Camphor tree also is a larval food source for the spicebush swallowtail butterfly. Unfortunately, these desirable traits are offset by the tree's invasiveness and damaging effects on wildlife and natural communities. It has been shown to cause sterility in birds. |
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Listed as a nuisance species in Florida and efforts are being taken to eradicate. Camphor in large doses is toxic to humans. It stimulates the central nervous system and may affect respiration or cause convulsions. The green fruits, leaves, and roots are toxic and the fruits are high in chemicals known to cause sterility in birds. It was part of the landscape when we moved into our Florida home and too large to remove with ease. |
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