''Tarchonanthus camphoratus'' (known as

camphor Camphor () is a waxy, colorless solid with a strong aroma. It is classified as a terpenoid and a cyclic ketone. It is found in the wood of the camphor laurel ('' Cinnamomum camphora''), a large evergreen tree found in East Asia; and in the k ...

bush for its scent, or leleshwa in Kenya), is a shrub or small tree, widespread in

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

south of the

Sahel The Sahel (; ar, ساحل ' , "coast, shore") is a region in North Africa. It is defined as the ecoclimatic and biogeographic realm of transition between the Sahara to the north and the Sudanian savanna to the south. Having a hot semi-arid c ...

Description

The camphor bush can reach up to 6 meters in height. The twigs and younger stems are white-felted, as are the undersides of the leaves. The upper leaf surface is dark olive-green. Bruised leaves smell strongly of camphor. ''Tarchonanthus camphoratus'' is

dioecious Dioecy (; ; adj. dioecious , ) is a characteristic of a species, meaning that it has distinct individual organisms (unisexual) that produce male or female gametes, either directly (in animals) or indirectly (in seed plants). Dioecious reproductio ...

. Flowers are usually present from December to May (in South Africa), with cream colored

panicle A panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. (softcover ). Some authors distinguish it from a compound spike inflorescence, by requiring that the flowers (and fruit) be pedicellate (having a single stem per flower). The branches of a panicle are of ...

s on a discoid head. Male flowering heads have several flowers whilst the female has only a few. The fruit is a dense and woolly

achene An achene (; ), also sometimes called akene and occasionally achenium or achenocarp, is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate (formed from one carpel) and indehiscent (they do not ope ...

Cultivation and uses

''Tarchonanthus camphoratus'' wood is fragrant, close-grained, attractive, durable and rich in aromatic oils. It is used as

wood fuel Wood fuel (or fuelwood) is a fuel such as firewood, charcoal, chips, sheets, pellets, and sawdust. The particular form used depends upon factors such as source, quantity, quality and application. In many areas, wood is the most easily availabl ...

and a source of charcoal. It is also used as a traditional building material, in horticulture, and in tribal

papermaking Papermaking is the manufacture of paper and cardboard, which are used widely for printing, writing, and packaging, among many other purposes. Today almost all paper is made using industrial machinery, while handmade paper survives as a speciali ...

. Leleshwa is also a source of aromatic oils used as fragrances. Its leaves are used by the

Maasai Maasai may refer to: * Maasai people *Maasai language * Maasai mythology * MAASAI (band) See also * Masai (disambiguation) * Massai Massai (also known as: Masai, Massey, Massi, Mah–sii, Massa, Wasse, Wassil or by the nickname "Big Foot" Mas ...

to scent their homes and persons.

Medicinal use

''Tarchonanthus camphoratus'' is used as a traditional remedy for respiratory illnesses.
"Tarchonantus Camphoratus Herba", Google Docs. The species has wide range of local uses, including dental hygiene.

Gallery

Tarchonanthus littoralis03.jpg, Tarchonanthus camphoratus00.jpg,

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q7685686 Mutisieae Flora of South Africa Trees of South Africa Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Dioecious plants Medicinal plants of Africa