Common Name:

General Information

Cinnamomum subavenium is an evergreen tree that can grow 20 - 30 metres tall. The bole can be up to 50cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its leaves, which are an important spice and are also used medicinally[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - China, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia.

Habitat

Evergreen broad-leaved forests on mountain slopes or in valleys; at elevations from 400 - 1,100 metres, occasionally to 2,500 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	22.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus generally prefer an acidic soil with ample moisture in the growing season and a position with some shade[].
Species in this genus are generally able to resprout from basal wood if the top is damaged, and will soon recover from any damage[].
The pinkish-brown inner bark is fragrant[].

Edible Uses

The leaves are an important spice[].

Medicinal

The plant (part not specified) has long been used as a traditional Chinese medicine for treating a variety of ailments including carcinomatous swellings, stomach aches, chest pain, abdominal pain, hernia, diarrhoea, rheumatism, nausea and vomiting[].

The essential oil obtained from the leaves has been shown to have excellent antimicrobial activity and also (in the form of a methanol extraction) to inhibit the proliferation of various cell lines[].
The leaves and stems have shown antioxidant activity, this is related to the presence of subamolide C in the leaves and subamolide E in the stems[].

Other Uses

The wood is used for timber[].
There are a number of tree species (including this one) from Malaysia that are in the family Lauraceae and produce a useful timber that is either not distinct enough in itself, or is in insufficient supply, to warrant being traded individually. These various species have been lumped together under the trade name ‘medang’[].
We do not have any more information about the wood from this species, but a general description of medang timber is as follows:-
The heartwood is very variable, from light-straw to red-brown and olive brown; the sapwood is ill-defined. The texture is moderately fine but even; the grain interlocked or wavy; the surface dull. The wood is not durable. It is easy to slightly difficult to resaw, and easy to moderately easy to cross-cut; easy to plane and the surface produced is smooth to moderately smooth. It is suitable for decorative work such as interior finishing, panelling, furniture and cabinet making. It is also suitable for plywood manufacture, whilst the heavier species are suitable for medium construction under cover[]

Propagation

Seed - the seed of species in this genus generally has a short viability and is best sown as soon in containers as it is ripe[]. Remove the fruit pulp since this can inhibit germination[]. Soaking the seeds for 24 hours in lukewarm water hastens germination[], which can take 1 - 6 months at 20°c[]. The germination rate of fresh seed is about 50%, falling to 25% for seed 6 months old, and zero for those 1 year old[]. Stored seed should be sown as soon as possible in containers[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out into their permanent positions when 10cm or more tall.
Cuttings of semi-ripe side shoots, 7cm with a heel, in a frame with bottom heat[].

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