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Lauraceae

W/C = Wild Collected
Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume.

  • Query IPNI
  • Common Name: Ceylon Cinnamon
  • Family: Lauraceae Juss.

  • Country of Origin: Sri Lanka, south-west India and the Tenasserim Hills of Burma
  • Habitat:

  • Description: Small tree, to 30 feet; leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate, to 7 inches long, obtuse or acute; panicles as long as leaves; flowers inconspicuous, yellowish.
  • Uses: Cinnamon is an ancient spice mentioned several times in the Old Testament. There are other species of Cinnamon but Ceylon Cinnamon has a more delicate aroma and is the dominating quality on the Western market.

    The essential oil of cinnamom bark (max. 4%) is dominated by the two phenylpropanoids cinnamaldehyd (3-phenyl-acrolein, 65 to 75%) and eugenol (4-(1-propene-3-yl)-2-methoxy-phenol, 5 to 10%). Other phenylpropanoids (safrol, cinnamic acid esters), mono- and sesquiterpenes, although occurring only in traces, do significantly influence the taste of cinnamon. Another trace component relevant for the quality is 2-heptanone (methyl-n-amyl-ketone). The slime content of the bark is rather low (3%).

    From cinnamon leaves, another essential oil (1%) can be obtained that consists mainly of eugenol (70 to 95%) and can be used as a substitute for clove. Small amounts (1 to 5%) of cinnamaldehyde, benzyl benzoate, linalool and β-caryophyllene have also been found.

    A completely different composition is found in the essential oil of cinnamon root bark; here, camphor (60%) dominates. This oil is not used commercially.

Images of this accession: {and/or its current location}

 
  

Accession Data:

  • Accession # 198800172
  • Source: Unknown
  • Accession Date: 01-20-1988
  • Bench: 1203 - AUS:India C
  • Qty: 2 confirmed on 11-10-2009
Classification:

  • Division: Magnoliophyta
  • Class: Magnoliopsida
  • SubClass: magnoliids
  • Order: Laurales
  • SubOrder:
  • Family: Lauraceae
  • SubFamily:
  • Tribe:
  • SubTribe:
References:

  1. Gernot Katzer's Spice Dictionary - last visited on 14 November 2002

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