''Cinnamomum burmannii'' (or ''Cinnamomum burmanni''), also known as Indonesian cinnamon, Padang cassia, Batavia cassia, or korintje, is one of several plants in the genus ''
Cinnamomum
''Cinnamomum'' is a genus of evergreen aromatic trees and shrubs belonging to the laurel family, Lauraceae. The species of ''Cinnamomum'' have aromatic oils in their leaves and bark. The genus contains approximately 250 species, distributed in ...
'' whose bark is sold as the spice
cinnamon. The most common and cheapest type of cinnamon in the US is made from powdered ''C. burmannii''.
''C. burmannii'' oil contains no
eugenol
Eugenol is an allyl chain-substituted guaiacol, a member of the allylbenzene class of chemical compounds. It is a colorless to pale yellow, aromatic oily liquid extracted from certain essential oils especially from clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, ...
,
but higher amounts of
coumarin
Coumarin () or 2''H''-chromen-2-one is an aromatic organic chemical compound with formula . Its molecule can be described as a benzene molecule with two adjacent hydrogen atoms replaced by a lactone-like chain , forming a second six-membered h ...
than ''
C. cassia'' and
Ceylon cinnamon
''Cinnamomum verum'', called true cinnamon tree or Ceylon cinnamon tree, is a small evergreen tree belonging to the family Lauraceae, native to Sri Lanka. The inner bark of several other ''Cinnamomum'' species are also used to make cinnamon, b ...
with 2.1 g/kg in an authenticated sample, and a mean of 5.0 g/kg in 8 samples tested.
It is also sold as quills of one layer.
Description
''Cinnamomum burmannii'' is an
evergreen
In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season. This also pertains to plants that retain their foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, whic ...
tree growing up to 7 m in height with aromatic bark and smooth, angular branches.
The leaves are glossy green, oval, and about long and wide.
[ Small yellow flowers bloom in early summer, and produce a dark drupe.]
Distribution
''Cinnamomum burmanii'' is native to Southeast Asia and Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
. It is normally found in West Sumatra and western Jambi province, with the Kerinci region being especially known as the center of production of quality, high essential-oil crops. ''C. burmanii'' grows in wet, tropical climates, and is an introduced species in parts of the subtropical world, particularly in Hawaiʻi
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...
, where it is naturalized and invasive.
Use
''Cinnamomum burmannii'' can extract aromatic oil from its bark, leaves and roots. The bark is also used as a cinnamon bark. The leaves can be used as a spice for preserved food and canned meat instead of laurel leaves. The core contains fat, which can be squeezed for industrial use. The wood is used for fine furniture and other fine work materials. C. burmannii is also a Chinese herbal medicine.
Gallery
File:Cinnamomum burmannii, blom en blomknoppe, a, Manie van der Schijff BT.jpg,
File:Cinnamomum burmannii, blomtakkies, a, Manie van der Schijff BT.jpg,
File:Cinnamomum burmannii, vrug, byna ryp, b, Manie van der Schijff BT.jpg,
File:CinnamonQuills.JPG,
File:陰香 Cinnamomum burmannii 20210627102154 07.jpg, Inflorescence axillary.The new stems is red, which is one of the characteristics of C. burmannii.
File:陰香 Cinnamomum burmannii 20210627102154 16.jpg, The ternate vein is protruding on the back of the leaf. The leaf surface is smooth.
File:陰香 Cinnamomum burmannii 20210627102154 17.jpg, The top of the hypocarp is truncated.
File:陰香 Cinnamomum burmannii 20210627102154 22.jpg, Foliage
File:陰香 Cinnamomum burmannii 20210627102154 27.jpg, Branches
File:陰香 Cinnamomum burmannii 20210627102154 19.jpg, New leaves
File:陰香 Cinnamomum burmannii 20210627102154 28.jpg, Bark
References
External links
Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR) Cinnamomum burmannii Page
burmannii
Spices
{{spice-stub